Dr Sophie Jenkins BVetMed PgCEAS GPExAP MRCVS, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine

Director

Burgess Rabbit Vet of the Year 2020

Sophie decided at the tender age of 4 to become an “animal doctor”; she just wanted to work with animals and nothing could stop her. At 5 years old she had a pair of gerbils, and by 7, her first dog. At 12 years old, after researching various reptiles, she decided on her first (of many) Bearded Dragon. In 2008, Sophie graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, and after a period of travel within Australia, including working in the wildlife hospital at Australia Zoo, she settled in her first job at a small animal practice in Newport, South Wales. Her gift to herself for graduating was her first panther chameleon named Neptune.

At just 4 weeks graduated, Sophie successfully performed her first ovariectomy and bladder stone removal in a spur thigh tortoise. In 2010 Sophie completed a General Practitioners certificate in Exotic Animal Practice then, in 2011, moved to her second practice in order to increase her exotic work load. In 2013, Sophie felt that her love for exotics was so strong that she joined forces with the dark side and became part of Origin Vets. Sophie hasn’t looked back since, and in 2016 she completed her Post Graduate certificate in Exotic Animals achieving the status of Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine. 

Sophie founded Origin Vets Clinic in 2020 in order to provide a professional Veterinary service for rabbits, small mammals and exotic pets in the Cardiff and surrounding area. 

Sophie has a passion for welfare and education for both clients and the veterinary profession. Sophie has held many CPD (continued professional development) days for veterinary professionals all over the world and is actively involved with teaching veterinary students across Europe

Being particularly fond of rabbits, Sophie has five Lionheads. She also has Amber the Lhasa Apso cross, Teddy the Ragdoll cat, and Ellie the Siamese cross, all of which are rescues. What about the more exotic pets you say? Well after many successful years of breeding Bearded Dragons and several species of chameleons and geckos, Sophie at the time of writing has just 1 rescue Bearded Dragon called Lily, 1 rescue Horsfield tortoise called Squirt Darwin Junior, 2 gargoyle geckos called Quazi and Esme, 12 Dune geckos, a Western Hognose named Piglet, a Syrian hamster called Winnie and a Tropical fish tank.

Even when she is not working with animals, Sophie loves to spend her time with them. She spends many weekends mountain walking with Amber and enjoying wildlife photography with several of her photos exhibited in two galleries in South Wales.

Awards

• RWAF Gold Rabbit Vet Status
• Burgess Rabbit Vet of the Year 2020
• Burgess Rabbit Vet Finalist of the Year 2021 + 2022

Certificates

• RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine 

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine
• General Practitioner Certificate in Exotic Animal Practice
• Post Graduate Masters Certificate in Exotic Animal Studies

RCVS Membership Number : 6515913 

Claire Lewis RVN RVN ISFM Cert FN

Lead Feline Registered Veterinary Nurse

Claire has a lifelong passion for all things feline. After qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) in 2013, she developed a real talent for winning over nervous patients and ensuring their time in the clinic is as positive and stress-free as possible.

Having grown up surrounded by cats, it was almost inevitable that Claire would become a feline nurse—her dad even wanted to name her Tabitha Catherine so he could call her “tabby cat”!

Her experience goes far beyond her professional training. Claire has worked with cat charities both in the UK and abroad, caring for felines at every life stage, from hand-reared kittens to elderly companions.

To further support her passion, Claire has completed additional education focused exclusively on feline nursing. This includes behaviour and feline origins, hospitalisation and cat-friendly handling, as well as the medical and surgical care of feline inpatients. With her depth of knowledge and genuine love for cats, your feline friends couldn’t be in better hands.In her spare time Claire likes to keep fit enjoying skating, pole fitness and hiking then chilling out with a good book

Certificate in Feline Nursing (ISFM Cert FN)

RCVS Membership Number: 6607840

Karen Docwra

Receptionist

 is our very experienced receptionist and also assists the entire throughout the day with various support.

Karen is no stranger to working with animals, having been a veterinary receptionist between 2004-2009 and a practice management assistant between 2008-2009 to a large veterinary hospital.

Karen also has 25 years in the dog grooming industry and has 2 small dogs herself , a Bichon Frise called Maddie and a mixed breed called Flo.

In her spare time Karen enjoys walking and taking her dogs in the caravan to various locations in West Wales. Karen is also a fine colour pencil artist and particularity enjoys drawing pet portraits!

Qualifications: 

• Level 4 Diploma Dog Grooming
• Canine behaviour
• Canine first aid

Liz Simpson RVN

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Liz has loved animals her whole life, though her career in the veterinary industry did not start until much later.

She previously completed a degree in Computer Games Design, which enabled her to move to Sweden to study as part of a European exchange programme. Liz completed her studies at the height of the Covid pandemic and despite initially enjoying her love of gaming, her love of animals was higher and Liz decided to pursue a career change into the veterinary industry. Liz followed her heart and she went on to  qualify as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2024. 

As a nurse, Liz has always shown a keen interest in exotic animals (especially birds!) and is currently studying towards an additional Certificate in exotic animal nursing. Her favourite animal is a pigeon, and her goal in life would be to rescue and rehabilitate pigeons that are brought into the practice!

Prior to working at Origin Vets Clinic, Liz worked in a large companion animal hospital where she developed her skills and in emergency care and theatre nursing.

Outside of work, Liz enjoys playing couch co-op games with her partner, watching the Cardiff Devil's ice hockey team, reading fantasy novels and going for long walks whilst playing Pokémon Go! 

RCVS Membership Number :  7497563

Dr Jennifer Stanford MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Jenny’s career is very colourful as Jenny came into the veterinary industry a little later on in life. At school, she wanted to be a vet, but sadly didn’t quite get the A-level grades needed. Instead, she followed an interest in geology at university, that led her to pursue a PhD in climate change, researching the small scale non-human forced oceanographic and climate fluctuations of the last few 100 thousand years. Eventually, Jenny became a senior lecturer at Swansea University. It was around this time that she opened her home and heart to rehoming increasingly complicated rescue rabbits. Soon, this reignited her passion for becoming a vet and in her mid thirties, Jenny hung up her lab coat in exchange for a stethoscope and went to study veterinary medicine and science. 

During her time at university, Jenny was the president of the Zoological Society and she enjoyed educating anyone who stood still for more than 5 minutes in her vicinity, on the complexities of rabbit medicine.

After graduated in 2023, Jenny began her veterinary career in a busy first opinion hospital where she completed her GDP. She is now ready to embark on following her first passion of being an exotic vet.

She has five rescue rabbits at home and in her spare time, can be found running, sailing and renovating her house. She also has a keen interest in wildlife and conservation, and has a soft spot in her heart for pigeons