Our Staff - Your Team

Dr. Gus Stringel

Dr. Gus Stringel graduated from OVC in 1998 and also has an undergraduate degree in Biology from U. of Guelph. After vet school, Gus took an internship in large animals at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown for one year. He and his wife Andrea, also a DVM 2000 worked in equine practice for two years in the Guelph area before moving to Merrickville in 2001. They have been breeding horses as a hobby since moving to the area and enjoy raising and selling young riding horses through their farm business Merrickville Equine. Gus is a passionate skier and loves windsurfing and working on the farm with his three kids.

Dr. Terri MacKenzie

A graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2002, Terri spent 14 years in Upstate NY in dairy/large animal practice before returning home to Canada and settling in with the Smiths Falls Vet Services family.  This is her third career after spending time at Queen’s and Guelph in research, then 10 years in pharmaceutical sales & marketing before going to vet school.  In addition to the usual herd health duties, Terri enjoyed working with a large group of sheep dairies as well as equine clients in NY.  She co-owned a 600 ewe sheep dairy sending milk off to be made into fabulous yogurt and soft cheeses.  Terri is happiest driving around the country with her trusty border collie Shirley doing farm calls on all variety of farm species.

Dr. Robert Rinfret

Dr. Robert Rinfret, DVM.   Dr. Rinfret grew up in Toronto and studied veterinary medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College, graduating in 1998.   Robert spent his first five years of practice in southern Ontario and has been happy to call the Ottawa Valley his home since 2004.   As a partner in the Smiths Falls, Merrickville and Athens Veterinary clinics, Robert takes a particular interest in mentoring recently graduated veterinarians as well as students. In order to further his interest in Dairy animals, Robert completed the Dairy Health Certificate Program at the University of Guelph in 2005. Now a father of three, Robert enjoys curling and travelling.

Heather

Heather is a Smiths Falls native and a favourite with clients after an amazing 37 years here at the clinic. She enjoys working with all of our small animal clients, especially the furry senior patients who need that little bit extra amount of attention. Heather enjoys boating in the Upper Rideau Lake and spending time with her yellow lab Annie along with her grand-dogs and cats.

J.C.

JC is a Registered Veterinary Technician, graduating from Saint Lawrence College. She has been contributing her knowledge to the practice for over 5 years. Working with animals who require special dental care and going out on the road to help with Equine calls are her special interests. She is also the Healthy Weight Coach at the clinic; don’t let your pets cheat with one foot off the scale when she is around!

Jessica Crate

Jessica grew up on her family’s horse farm in Brockville area, and spent eight years working at a local veterinarian there. After take a few years off to raise her daughters, she joined our practice and can be found bouncing between our Smiths Falls and Athens locations.

Jessica loves spending the day on our front desk greeting all the clients, and helping in appointments when needed.

When not at work, she spends as much time with her family as possible, and it seems no amount of fresh air can tire out her two daughters or her Chocolate Lab, Kolby!

Fabienne

Cindy

Cindy joined the clinic in 2023- fresh from college and soon after obtained her RVT designation. After years of raising a family and caring for her own animals she is thrilled to finally be in the field she’s always wanted to work in.

Samantha