Meet the Vets

Dr Donna Pringle

BVSc (Dist.) PGDipBus (Dist.) Veterinary Director

  • “If you’d asked me 5 years ago if I’d be a practice owner I’d have said “No way, that’s for real adults”. I didn’t feel confident I could maintain the legacy my parents had started, how would I keep the staff happy and engaged, who could do the tricky surgeries that scare the wits out of me, and how on earth does all the accounting stuff get done?

    But then I worked with Hannah and Gemma and these two amazing women opened my eyes to the possibility of what we could achieve, together.

    These two are very talented vets, we share similar values and ethos and they’re fun to be around. Combining our different perspectives and skills helps us achieve balance in our decisions and a wonderful supportive work environment.

    We are now excited about practice ownership and stewardship of Marshall and Pringle for many years to come.

    We aim to look after the nursing and vet staff as a group whilst recognising they are individuals. Veterinary medicine and surgery techniques may have general principles, but I believe recognising individuals differences makes your experience, and our relationship, better. I will try to remember if your cat is scared of loud noisy spaces or doesn’t like her back being touched, if your dog prefers to be on the floor than the table or is shy and needs time to warm up”

Dr Gemma Waterfall

BVSc GPCert FelP Veterinary Director

  • “I ventured into the role of director when Barb and Murray Pringle approached me to do so alongside Donna, their daughter, and Hannah. They believed and trusted in us to continue their work and so I dove right in. Having an amazing support network has made this transition relatively smooth for both clients and us. I chose this path to provide great care for my patients, however, a major driving force was also to create a working environment where all staff were equally respected.

    As I have matured through my career my satisfaction has come from knowing my clients and creating great working relationships with them. I love to see my patients through all stages of their life and as their families become bonded to them. I want to be able to be there for you through the good and the bad; to make each visit as stress and fear-free as possible for both you and your pet. The most rewarding days are those spent working with the clients and pets that I know, even when those days are hard. I want to be able to communicate clearly and ensure that both our clinic and I are meeting you and your pets needs and expectations, every step of the way. I want you to know that when you leave us for the day, we haven’t forgotten about you. Many a memory and a smile are shared amongst all the staff, some for years to come.

    I have a passion for feline medicine as cats are such hilarious and challenging creatures with huge personalities that belie their small stature. I am also the clinic ultrasonographer and this has been a wonderful skill I have developed over my 15 years in practice.”

Dr Hannah Tolland

BVMS Veterinary Director

  • “After being a vet for some 15 years I have come to appreciate what aspects of my job I enjoy and value the most, what I want out of it, and what sort of clinic I want to work in. The major motivation for being a vet is always to speak for the animal, to do my best to ease suffering and promote health. Another is to work alongside clients, discussing cases openly and enabling them to make informed choices, taking into account all the many factors involved with their pet’s care; answering their questions and easing their worries.

    It is a joy to carry out this role alongside a dedicated and passionate team who have such a breadth of knowledge and experience. We all have our areas of special interest and we enjoy discussing the complex cases and bounce ideas off each other. I love how we work together to support and encourage each other through tough days or life’s difficulties.

    Taking on the challenge of running this clinic has increased my appreciation and respect for every member of staff here and for everything they do. It has unlocked this opportunity to working alongside a band of like-minded individuals, to carry on Murray & Barb’s vision, and to create something that continues to serve the Kaiapoi community into the future.”

Dr Cathy Pollock

BVSc (Dist.) MANZCVS

  • “I was delighted to join Marshall and Pringle in 2020, and to become a part of this friendly, compassionate, and progressive team. My passion for animals started at a young age, and it was no surprise to my family that I was determined to become a veterinarian. Over my career I have been grateful for the wonderful opportunity to be able to provide the health care to help my patients live their best lives, and to support the strong bond I see between families and their much-loved pets.

    I enjoy all aspects of veterinary medicine and am constantly learning to keep up my knowledge of new medical developments. Of course, no one is an island, and I always feel supported by the experienced team of vets and vet nurses here at Marshall and Pringle, who bring a wide skill set, so together we can provide quality pet care.

    Outside of work, the children have grown up and flown the nest but I have two cats Rosie and Pixie to share my home and busy times with delightful visiting grandchildren. I like to recharge by connecting with the natural environment, hill walking and sea swims and by creating ceramic sculpture.”

Dr Jess Yardley

BVSc, BSc Zoology, Cert. Animal Management – Dog Behaviour and Training

  • “One of the best things about being a vet for me is getting to spend my day with vet nurses. I think pet owners know that the nurses care a lot for their pets but probably don’t know how much they support us vets. They help us professionally by keeping us safe from injury, co-ordinating all the little things that make a vet practice run smoothly and working alongside us to do a great job. All the ducks line up thanks to the nurses. They support us emotionally, if we’ve had a tough case, sad day, or an unpleasant encounter. They are not afraid to speak up if they think we could be doing something better, they’re always right and I’m always learning from them. Most of all they bring the fun to work and make me laugh a lot. I chose this profession for the animals but have noticed my best days are thanks to my work friends.”

Dr Louise McInnes

BVSc (Dist.)

  • “When I attended my daughter’s primary school to talk to the kids about being a Vet, they asked lots of questions, like “Why did you want to be a Vet?” I have always loved animals, and wanted to dedicate my life to helping them when they were sick or injured, and “What’s the most disgusting thing you’ve ever had to do for your job?” You don’t want to know!

    But one question made me stop and think. “What do you love most about your job?”

    Two things actually: Firstly, the people - the vets, nurses, administration staff and clients, who together really make each day fun, funny, interesting, and supportive. These are the people who can make or break your day, and since I started at M&P in 2022 the support has been amazing, especially on the hard days.

    Secondly, I love problem-solving. I get to do this every day with nearly every pet. It’s really satisfying to solve the puzzle by determining the cause of the problem, and then finding a solution that balances the needs of the patient and their humans. Often you can’t do it alone, so I’m lucky to be surrounded by the knowledgeable, professional, and caring Marshall and Pringle team; there’s always another brain or set of eyes available to provide a fresh perspective. I have a broad range of veterinary interests and I’m constantly learning, which is another bonus!

    When I’m not being a vet, I’m an amateur taxi driver for 2 busy kids, a dog walker and ball-thrower for our two dogs, and occasionally get the chance for a hobby or two; currently I’m making furniture.”