Welcome to Burvale Heights Veterinary Hospital

At Burvale Heights Veterinary Hospital, our experienced team of veterinarians and veterinary nurses is dedicated to delivering the highest standard of care for your beloved pets. We treat every animal with compassion, kindness, and respect - just like a member of our own family.

Get to know the passionate, skilled, and animal-loving quirky individuals who make our clinic a trusted part of the community. Please meet our team below - we can’t wait to welcome you and your furry family members.

  

Perry Kazantzis

Practice Owner (BVSc)

Perry graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2000. He loves doing surgery – ranging from basic procedures like speys, castrations and dental procedures to more complicated orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeries. Apart from surgery he loves to interact with clients and generally have a good chat with them about their pets but also a wide range of other things ranging from cars, favourite places to eat, holiday destinations and a wide range of other varied topics.

Perry loves to do things with his hands – he loves to find out how and why things work especially electronics – if something is broken Rachel can come home to find it in pieces and then miraculously it is fixed and working again – after a bit of electronic microsurgery!!

Along with fixing things Perry also likes to build things – you can’t just go out and buy a cat tower with a cat wheel attached……..Perry draws up a design, makes the compulsory Bunnings trip(s) to purchase supplies and then puts together up a multilevel cat tower with a ramp and cat wheel attached which the 2 cats love and make full use of by the way. If he is not building a piece of furniture, he is possibly building another Lego creation.

He also likes to relax watching varied TV series and movies – sci fi are a particular favourite of his.

Family is very important to Perry - spending time with his wife Rachel and daughter Deni is a priority, whether it is a quite day spent at home or out and about on another family adventure.


Rachel Picot

Practice Owner (BVSc (Hons))

Rachel graduated from Melbourne University in 1999 and has since undertaken further study in both internal medicine and ultrasonography. With many years of experience in veterinary practice, she is passionate about providing high-quality care to her patients and enjoys the variety and challenges that veterinary medicine brings.

Outside of the clinic, Rachel has a creative side and is an enthusiastic crocheter. She particularly enjoys creating amigurumi - the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed creatures and characters. What might seem like an unusual hobby at first glance makes perfect sense for someone who spends their days caring for animals.

Rachel also enjoys photography, collecting cookbooks, and occasionally putting them to good use in the kitchen. When she’s not crafting or cooking, she can often be found watching movies or one of the many television series she follows, with favourites ranging from science fiction and historical dramas to comedy.

An avid cyclist, Rachel enjoys exploring Melbourne’s bike paths with her husband Perry and their daughter Deni. Together they have also taken up mountain biking and enjoy spending time outdoors whenever they can.

Family is at the heart of everything Rachel does. She and Perry have been married since 2002, and their daughter Deni shares their love of animals. Their household also includes two much-loved cats: Luna, a beautiful champagne mink Tonkinese, and Neo, a handsome blue Burmese.

Rachel’s experience, compassion, and warm sense of humour make her a valued member of our veterinary team.


Sharnee Lehrmayer

Veterinarian (BVSc (Hons))

Sharnee has been working as a small animal veterinarian since graduation from Melbourne University in 2010. Sharnee has a special interest in internal medicine, ophthalmology and clinical pathology and enjoys keeping up to date with new and developing treatment options at conferences both in Australia and abroad.

Sharnee is owned by Xena, a brown Burmese cat who is very mischievous and likes to terrorise Sharnee on a daily basis, and Salem, a black domestic shorthair, who likes to terrorise Xena on a daily basis. In her free time she also enjoys horse riding, rollerskating and reading a good book.


Lu Chi Chong

Veterinarian (DVM)

Dr. Lu graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Melbourne in 2024. Originally from Singapore, she moved to Australia in 2020 to pursue her veterinary studies and is now proud to be part of our dedicated clinical team.

A foster carer for cats, Dr. Lu has a special interest in internal medicine and enjoys working through complex cases to improve patient outcomes. She is fluent in both English and Mandarin and values open, clear communication with pet owners.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, nature walks, baking, and jamming to her favourite artist, Mr. Worldwide (yes, Pitbull!). Dr. Lu is passionate about continuous learning and looks forward to growing her skills while providing the highest level of care to your pets.


  

Danielle

Head Nurse

Danielle is our Head Veterinary Nurse and a true leader within the clinic. With over seven years of hands-on nursing experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge, calm confidence, and compassion to every patient interaction. She plays a key role in guiding our team, supporting our vets, and ensuring the clinic runs smoothly day in and day out.

Danielle is especially passionate about surgical and inpatient care, and is known for her high standards, attention to detail, and unwavering dedication to animal welfare. Her warm, approachable nature makes her a favourite among clients, and her team looks to her for guidance, support, and expertise.

At home, Danielle is a proud fur mum to two much-loved dogs: Noah, a Shetland Sheepdog, and Bailey, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Outside of the clinic, she keeps busy with her many interests - including regular trips to Japan, going to the gym, reading manga, playing the violin, and learning new languages.

Whether she’s caring for patients or mentoring her team, Danielle brings heart, professionalism, and a strong sense of purpose to everything she does.


Erika

Veterinary Nurse

With over four years of hands-on nursing experience, Erika is a dedicated and compassionate veterinary nurse who brings warmth, skill, and a calming presence to every patient she meets. Growing up in regional Victoria, Erika developed a deep love for animals and the land - something she’s carried into her career with pride.

She shares her life with Jasper, her spirited Red & White Border Collie, who’s as adventurous as she is. She loves tackling full-day hikes through the high country and feels most at home surrounded by nature.

Erika has a keen interest in patient surgery and post-operative care, and she’s known among our team for her gentle handling and laser-sharp attention to detail. Her calm demeanor helps even the most nervous pets (and owners!) feel at ease during their visits.

Outside the clinic, Erika lives life to the fullest - whether she's clinging to a cliff bouldering, rocking out at live music gigs, or getting lost in a new novel. She’s also a creative at heart, often found elbows-deep in arts and crafts projects or planning her next travel escape.

Erika brings not only clinical excellence but also a genuine passion for animal care, making her an invaluable part of our veterinary team.


Monique

Veterinary Nurse

Monique has been a valued member of our veterinary team for over three years, bringing compassion, skill, and a deep love for animals to every shift. She is a qualified Veterinary Nurse and holds a Diploma in Animal Technology, which she uses every day to deliver exceptional care to her patients.

Outside of work, Monique is a true bookworm with a home library that could rival a small bookstore. When she’s not curled up with a novel, she’s enjoying live music or planning her next adventure abroad. A keen traveller, her favourite destination so far is Spain – a perfect match for her love of Mexican food!

Monique connects with the butterfly as her spirit animal – drawn to its symbolism of gentleness, free spirit and enjoying life’s simple, beautiful moments.

She shares her life with Daisy, her much-loved 10-year-old Maltese x Shih Tzu, who often acts as both cuddle buddy and canine companion.


Molly

Veterinary Nurse

Molly is a qualified Veterinary Nurse who recently completed her Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing. She is passionate about providing exceptional patient care and has a particular interest in surgery and emergency nursing, enjoying the fast-paced nature of these areas and the opportunity to continually expand her skills and knowledge.

Known for her calm and compassionate approach, Molly is dedicated to ensuring every patient receives the highest standard of care while helping owners feel supported throughout their pet’s journey.

This year, Molly is excited to be travelling to Africa to participate in a veterinary nursing experience, where she will further develop her clinical skills while working with a diverse range of animals.

Outside of the clinic, Molly enjoys staying active at the gym, spending time with her friends and partner, and cheering on the Richmond Football Club whenever she can. She also loves travelling and discovering new places, with a particular interest in exploring different cultures and cuisines.

At home, Molly is kept busy by her three much-loved pets: Stanley the Staffy x Chihuahua, Luna the Labrador x Ridgeback, and Winston the Domestic Short Hair cat.

Molly’s enthusiasm, dedication, and genuine love for animals make her a valued member of our veterinary team.


Emma

Veterinary Nurse

Since childhood Emma has had a keen interest in animals of all shapes and sizes which has encouraged her to pursue a career as a Veterinary Nurse and hopefully one day a Veterinarian.

Her love of animals was encouraged by the menagerie she was surrounded by as a child, from rabbits to guinea pigs and budgies to fish. For over 14 years now she has kept chickens as backyard pets and absolutely loves these extraordinary creatures. Currently, she has one cuddly ginger cat named Harry, two energetic Australian Shepherds Named Zac and Flynn, and 11 adorable backyard chickens. 


Cathy Yan

Veterinary Nurse

Cathy has been working at Burvale Heights Vet ever since graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2021. Cathy loves all aspects of veterinary medicine, but has a special interest in oncology - and is endeavouring to pursue those interests further. She enjoys having a good laugh and chat.

Cathy is occupied at home by her two cats Mia and Pipi, both of whom are very cheeky and like to get into mischief. In her spare time you can find her doing pilates, scrap-booking or snuggled up watching a variety of tv shows. She also enjoys travelling - with her next destination on her bucket list being Japan.


  
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