Meet the Team
Dr Peter Martin
BVSc MRCVS
Owner, Director & Lead Veterinary Surgeon
Peter is Jurassic Vet's creator, owner and senior veterinary surgeon. Peter opened Jurassic Vets in 2014 after spending four years planning and developing his idea for a new veterinary practice for Sidmouth which would combine friendly, professional bedside manner with the highest possible standards of clinical care.
Peter graduated from Bristol University's famous Langford Veterinary School and began his career doing 'a bit of everything' in a mixed practice in Cornwall. After encountering every animal from racehorses to dairy cows, Peter decided to focus his energy on his passion for small animals. A trip to India in 2010 working as the head vet for street dog charities gave him the idea of setting up his own vets in Sidmouth. A strict vegan passionate about promoting the welfare of all species of animal, Peter is especially interested in fine, precise (fiddly!) surgery and really enjoys carefully closing wounds and removing tricky lumps.
Peter's dog Stitch, a whippet x Jack Russell, is a rescue dog from the fantastic NAWT Heaven's Gate rescue centre in Somerset. He can usually be found trotting merrily around with his beloved ball, whilst completely ignoring Peter's attempts to recall him. A Sidbury resident, Peter's (limited!) spare time is spent kayaking and snorkelling on the beautiful coast around Sidmouth, as well as indulging interests in veganism, history, science and engineering.
Dr Joanne Dyer
BSc BVSc PhD PgCertSAM MRCVS
Senior Veterinary Surgeon
A very experienced vet, Jo has a real passion for veterinary medicine - investigating the cause of complex problems to find just the right treatment for the pet.
She even holds a certificate in medicine, having completed an additional qualification since becoming a vet.
Jo enjoys the unusually long twenty-minute consults at Jurassic Vets as they allow her to spend more time with each individual patient to do the best possible job and is a dab hand at the complex process of ultrasound-scanning with our powerful colour doppler ultrasound machine.
Dr Tom Cave BVSc MSc (Clinical Oncology) DSAM MRCVS.
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Veterinary Surgeon
We warmly welcome Tom to our team here at Jurassic Vets!
Tom brings over 30 years of veterinary expertise to Jurassic Vets. After graduating as a vet from the University of Bristol in 1996, Tom spent four years in mixed private practice in the South West, gaining the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine in 1999. He then moved to the University of Glasgow as a resident in Clinical Oncology and Haematology, where he became Senior Clinical Oncologist.
Tom was awarded the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 2004 and his MSc in Clinical Oncology from the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies at the University of Birmingham in 2005. From 2004 to 2018, Tom and his wife Claire founded a medicine/oncology referral service, which they grew into a large multidisciplinary referral service.
Outside of his veterinary work, Tom is following in his father’s footsteps, running a 265-acre rare-breed sheep and beef farm on the edge of Exmoor, which prioritises wildlife and conservation.
Dr Rachel Ballantyne
BVSc(hons) MSc CertEM MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Rachel joined the team at Jurassic in January 2024. From Devon originally, she recently returned home from 10 years living and working in the Middle East.
Rachel enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice and has a particular interest in clinical nutrition.
Outside of work she can be found teaching Body Pump or Indoor Cycling at local gyms, or out walking on Woodbury Common with her family and cocker spaniels Mr Bingo and Waffles.
Dr Facundo Gil Rocco
MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
We warmly welcome Facundo to our team here at Jurassic Vets!
Facundo enchances our veterinary team by bringing over 20 years of extensive clinical and surgical knowledge and experience. Facundo has practised in his home country, Argentina, Sweden, New Zealand and the UK during his time as a Veterinary Surgeon.
Facundo enjoys walking, cycling and snorkelling in his leisure time. He has also been on many exciting trips around the world!
Facundo always wears a smile and is looking forward to meeting our clients and their wonderful pets.
Dr Antonia Evans
BvetMed MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon
Antonia graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 2021 and moved back to the South-West, where she could also spend time with her family and friends, riding her horse and walking the family saluki in the beautiful East Devon countryside.
She joined us in her hometown of Sidmouth in February 2025, with enthusiasm for both medical and surgical cases, and looks forward to meeting all of our lovely clients and their pets!
Outside of work she is a keen explorer whether that be running, cycling or sea swimming (when warm enough!)
Stuart Saunders
Practice Manager
Stuart joined Jurassic Vets in February 2023 as an experienced practice manager having formally worked at two veterinary hospitals, two referral centres and two veterinary GP practices. Stuart is on the board of the Veterinary Management Group and sits on two panels, The Royal College of Veterinary surgeons and The PSS Working Group & sustainability.
Before joining the veterinary profession Stuart managed a successful and expanding legal practice and spent 17 years as a broker in the City of London and Hong Kong.
Stuart outside of work has many interests including the constant struggle of trying to keep his 350-year-old house from falling down!
Stevie Partridge RVN
Head Veterinary Nurse
Stevie is a highly-experienced RVN who joined Jurassic Vets after moving down from the Midlands. Stevie has worked in many busy clinics, including one in Spain for a while, and has a particular interest in nursing in emergency situations and for critically-ill patients. She is currently studying towards her Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care. Stevie loves walking her lurcher Harley, adventures in her campervan and crocheting amongst other pursuits.
Emma RVN
Deputy Head Veterinary Nurse
Emma grew up in mid Devon, amongst a multitude of pets, from gun dogs to goats, and of course ponies!
Emma started her working life off as a saddlery apprentice here in Colyton, eventually becoming a qualified saddlemaker, which she continues in her spare time.
She finally got the chance to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming a veterinary nurse whilst living in the USA and working in several veterinary hospitals, gaining experience in all aspects of veterinary medicine, from small animal to emergency and critical care, to equine, farm and exotics before returning to the UK to gain her RVN qualification.
Emma was a locum here for some time then decided to take a full time position with us as Deputy Head Nurse!
She loves the nursing side of her work as much as the client care part, you'll often find her in nurse consults, or 'in the back', making sure your precious pets are given the love and care they deserve.
Kirsty Gibbons RVN
Regitered Veterinary Nurse
Kirsty qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2017 and has worked at Jurassic Vets since 2022.
Kirsty has brought her broad knowledge and experience having worked at a mixed practice and small animal only practice previously.
In her spare time she enjoys going on adventures with her 5 year old son and spending time with her two cats.
Eve Burns RVN
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Eve has worked in practice for 6 years working in mixed and small animal practice. She qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2021.
Her research on out-of-hours safety in practice has recently been published by the Veterinary Nursing Journal.
Eve is particularly interested in medical nursing and loves nothing more than a morning of consultations with your furry friends.
Her other main interest is all things bunny rabbit, and enjoys watching her 3 hoppers enjoying the garden at home.
Eve and her husband also run an Air BnB out of their home in Exmouth, with their dog Whisper and can sometimes be caught enjoying the sunshine of Torbay from their boat Fidenza 2!
Lucy RVN
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Lucy is pictured here with her lovely dog, Alan. She joined Jurassic Vets after completing her nursing training in Somerset.
Lucy manages our monthly Puppy Parties and has a particular interest in surgical nursing.
At home, she is kept firmly in her place by a motley pack of small dogs and large cats, all of whom are absolutely certain they’re in charge!
Greta Leat
Reception Manager
Greta's background is Wiltshire/Oxfordshire NHS Trust. This involved many roles, clinical and admininstration from phlebotomy to being part of an amazing immunisation team until moving down to the south west with her family and beloved dogs, Yoda & Nala in 2019 to begin a new chapter. Greta wanted to continue to provide care and support to others so she joined Jurassic Vets allowing for her to continue where she left off but also for the four-legged kind and their humans!
Lucy Mortimer
Veterinary Receptionist
Lucy previously worked in a law firm but has always had a love of animals so went into veterinary in 2010.
She started working at Jurassic Vets in 2021.
She has taken many babies home to handrear over the years and currently has three crazy cats. She has lived here all her life and shares her home with her teenage son who is football mad.
Lucy loves to give your fur babies lots of treats and cuddles to make them feel at ease and there is always a hug for our clients when needed too.
Emily Rice
Veterinary Receptionist
Emily was the first member of our ever growing reception team starting in 2021.
She loves spending time with her family. Even more so after welcoming her first daughter in 2022.
Em is a real foodie, her perfect Sunday would involve a lovely dog walk followed by a roast dinner in a country pub!
She will always have a smile on her face to welcome in pets and their humans! And has a real soft spot for longhaired felines.
Cheyenne Sampson
Veterinary Receptionist
Chey joined Jurassic vets to pursue her love for animals.
Her hobbies are walking her dogs and crystal painting.
Chey's pack consists of four sight hounds who range from a greyhound and a bull terrier to a whippet - they're certainly a handful!
Georgia Sugden
Veterinary Receptionist
Georgia is one of our newest receptionists to the team.
From a young age she wanted to work with animals and decided to pick the big gentle giants…horses. She studied them throughout college for 3 years.
Before joining the Jurassic Vets team, Georgia was a riding school instructor. She left this job for a change of scenery and has fallen in love with her job, aiding owners and pets alike.
She has a mini dachshund called Milo (Dottie's brother) who is always up to mischief when he isn’t too busy being a "nervous Nellie". Along with Milo she has her beloved cat, Oliver, who is always bringing her presents!
Georgia is best known amongst the practice for wanting to rescue and re-home every stray that comes in!!
Besides her small furry companions, she has rescued her little coblet, Jovi, her pride and joy. She loves to spend any free time with him (although she always seems to be playing chicken in the morning with him!)
Gemma Benson
Veterinary Receptionist
Hi, I'm Gemma, one of the receptionists here at Jurassic Vets. I come from a motorsport background and I share my home with my husband, our daughter, two dogs, and a cat—so I truly understand how much pets mean to their families. I'm passionate about providing a warm welcome and making sure both clients and their pets feel comfortable and cared for from the moment they walk through the door.
