Who We Are

We started out as a husband and wife team - many a year ago we were pleasantly surprised to find that we actually work really well together and have worked together for the last 9 years. Also, (very helpfully to our patients) we have complimentary skill sets. One a surgeon (who also enjoys medicine) the other a medic (who is also a dab hand at surgery). Between us we have most bases covered.

As time moved on however, The Grove Vets has become far more than just the two of us. We are a close knit family, all with our own little quirks and mini superpowers. Every one of us truly understanding what a responsibility it is to be trusted with looking after someones' pet.

Our Vets

Andy Valenzia BVSc GPCertSAS MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

I qualified from the University of Bristol Vet School in 2008 and have never looked back. I pride myself on having a logical approach to veterinary medicine (and problem solving in general) and in being able to take my patient's owners through the process with me, making sure we are all on the same page every step of the way. I love surgery and have been performing keyhole and other advanced procedures for many a year now. I completed a post graduate European surgical certificate in 2022. Outside of work I am a family man and am besotted with my wife, 2 daughters, dog and cat. After work and family commitments I commit whatever spare time I have left to martial arts training. I am a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Submission Grappling under Pedro Bessa, actively competing and often waking at 5am to train before work. So please excuse the occasional cauliflower ear!

Amy Valenzia BVSc CertAVP MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

I qualified from Bristol Vet School in 2008. I'm geeky at heart and love medicine and ultrasonography, the way the body works is so clever! I have achieved my Cert AVP focussing on internal medicine; having taken a bit of a break from studying to grow our family, I am now really interested to perfect my ultrasonography more and am currently undertaking a 2 year diagnostic imaging post graduate course. I love seeing the relationship between owners and their pets and feel privileged to be able to help that be a healthy and happy one. Outside of work I'm devoted to our two daughters Elia and Lori, you can often find us squelching in mud or splashing in puddles with our dog Hattie, not forgetting Frank the cat who often follows us on the school run! I also like to squeeze in a bit of running and Ashtanga when I find the time.

Saffie Medley BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Saffie graduated from the University of Bristol in 2024. Having worked with us since 2020 as a kennel assistant during her time as a vet student, Saffie is a much loved member of the Grove family. Her special interests include all the small furries from hamsters and gerbils to rabbits and guinea pigs! Saffie consults Tuesday to Friday as well as the odd Saturday morning.

Caroline Kingston BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

Caroline graduated from the University of Bristol in the year 2000. Having spent a number of years in practice she took a step back from veterinary medicine to look after her family. She initially joined us as a client but after getting to know each other we knew she would be a great fit and invited her to join the team. She hasn't missed a step, having already gained a loyal following of clients and their furry companions, she consults on Monday, Thursday and Friday mornings and also Monday afternoons.

James Greenwood MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

James graduated from Bristol Vet School in 2007 and has been friends with Andy and Amy since their student days! After a few years working in equine practice, it was James’ love of dogs and cats that drew him into small amimal practice long term. He has a particular interest in pet dentistry, dermatology and general consulting - an avid pet lover himself, he enjoys helping pets and their owners enjoy the best life together. James is also a regular face on our television screens as the resident vet on BBC1’s ‘Morning Live’ and has appeared across other shows such as CBBC’s ‘The Pets Factor’, C4’s ‘Fur Babies’ and has published two books. Outside of his vet work and filming commitments, James is a busy dad to son Oliver as well as looking after a small flock of sheep, 2 pigs, 14 chickens, one rescue Labrador called Dolly and a very noisy cockerel! James is our regular Tuesday locum and also helps out on other days when the vets are on holiday.

Our Nursing Team

Ella Grove RVN

Head Nurse

Ella graduated from the University of Bristol with a BSc in Veterinary Nursing and Biomedical Sciences. Since joining us in 2021, she has gone from strength to strength and has become an integral part of the team. She is actively involved in training our student nurses, taking nursing consults and performing anaesthesia. In the operating theatre she generally knows what our surgeons need before they need it and competes with Andy to see who can take the most perfect x-ray.

Alice Leigh RVN

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Alice graduated as a Veterinary Nurse in 2024. After leaving school in 2018, her ambition was to become a nurse and she immediately started working as a kennel assistant gaining a huge amount of experience working in practice. Her main interest is inpatient care; rest assured your pets will receive lots of TLC when they are staying in the kennels. Outside of work, she enjoys riding her horse, Flash (although he can be a handful at times!) and spending time with her miniature daschund, Hattie.

Lottie Bartle RVN

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Lottie graduated as a Veterinary Nurse in 2024 from Abbeydale Vet Nurse Training. She is incredibly organised and is the queen of the spreadsheet, and has the responsibility of keeping all our pet export appointments and documentation organised. Her cocker spaniel, Rupert, is a hell of a guy and has proven to have one of the most complicated clinical histories known to Vet-Kind. Luckily he is in great hands with Lottie.

Leah Morris SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse

Leah is currently in her first year training as a veterinary nurse and has hit the ground running! She is a caring and bubbly individual and a pleasure to be around. Leah keeps things moving around the clinic; cleaning and packaging surgical kits, holding animals for blood samples, processing blood samples, answering the phones, the list goes on. She has aspirations of becoming a veterinary nurse - something that we are sure she will achieve in the not too distant future!

Ella Keeling RVN

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Ella graduated from the University of Bristol in 2022 with a BSc in Veterinary Nursing and Bioveterinary Science. After qualifying, she split her time between her hometown Southampton, in both first opinion and emergency clinics, and by interning at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa. After spending months caring for all kinds of furry, feathered and scaled creatures (with a baby hippo affectionately known as Gloria being the biggest and best time-waster!) she decided Bristol was still calling and couldn’t stay away. Her main interests include inpatient care, wildlife/exotics and ECC, and will happily talk to you all day about hippo sleepovers. Outside of work, Ella is kept on her toes by a loving golden retriever called Bella, and Bamboo, a very old, but very cheeky male rabbit.

Shannon Linwood SVN

Student Veterinary Nurse

Shannon is a third-year Veterinary Nursing and Animal Behaviour student at the University of Bristol with a particular interest in patient recovery and inpatient care. She’s also a proud pet mum to Bella, her Cavachon and Draco the Crested Dragon. Shannon is our brilliant Saturday morning nurse but you'll also see her around during the week, either on placement, or covering the odd shift. When she’s not busy with uni or work, Shannon enjoys crochet, painting, and drawing.