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 in 1999 from Melbourne University.  She has completed further study in both internal medicine and ultrasound.

In her limited spare time Rachel likes to crochet. People sometimes look at her strangely when she says that, until she shows them her amigurumi which is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures.  A very suitable hobby for a vet. 

Rachel’s other hobbies include photography and collecting cookbooks which she sometimes uses to cook!  She also enjoys watching movies and numerous tv series ranging from sci fi, to historical drama and comedy. Rachel enjoys going for bike rides with Perry and their daughter Deni - they have all been having a go at mountain biking (as well as enjoying the multitude of regular bike paths Melbourne has to offer).

Most of all, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family.  Perry and Rachel have been married since 2002. Their daughter Deni shares her parents’ love of animals. They share their home with Othello a Schnoodle who Perry rescued as a puppy (performing heart surgery to save his life) and their two cats, Luna, a beautiful champagne mink Tonkinese girl and Neo, a gorgeous blue Burmese boy.


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.


Natasha

Veterinary Nurse

Tash is a skilled and compassionate Veterinary Nurse with over seven years of experience, having worked across both the ACT and Victoria. Her broad clinical knowledge, calm presence, and love for animals make her a vital part of our nursing team.

At home, Tash proudly embraces her role as a “crazy cat lady,” caring for her three feline companions - Remy, Ginny, and Mimikyu. She brings that same level of attention and affection to every patient in her care.

Outside of the clinic, Tash enjoys crocheting, cooking her signature Bosnian dish Krompiruša (potato pie), relaxing with episodes of Gardening Australia, and recently completed every season of The Golden Girls. She's fluent in Bosnian and brings a warm, multicultural perspective to our team. Tash also loves live music and regularly attends music festivals and concerts - her current favourite artist is Sabrina Carpenter. On a personal note, she recently celebrated a major life milestone and is now happily married.

Tash’s experience, gentle nature, and down-to-earth personality make her a much-loved member of our clinic family.


Molly

Veterinary Nurse

Molly is a passionate and driven Veterinary Nurse with over a year of clinical experience and is currently completing her Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing. With a strong interest in surgical and emergency cases, she enjoys the challenges of fast-paced environments and is always looking to grow her skills and knowledge.

She brings a calm, capable presence to the clinic and is deeply committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to every patient.

At home, Molly shares her life with three beloved pets: Stanley the Staffy x Chihuahua, Luna the Labrador x Ridgeback, and Winston the Domestic Short Hair cat. Outside of work and study, she leads an active lifestyle—spending time at the beach, catching up with friends at trivia nights, and training for her second triathlon. She’s also a keen traveller, with a love for exploring Europe, and never says no to good Mexican food.

Molly’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication make her a valued member of our nursing 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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