About me
Dr. Irene O'Brien graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan with distinction. She is an owner of Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital in Surrey, B.C. and has been enjoying the challenges of small animal medicine and surgery for more than 30 years. She has been certified in Fear Free practices and her hospital staff are trained to recognize and alleviate fear, anxiety and stress in pets making clinic visits safer and more pleasant for both the patients and their families.
Dr. O'Brien's passion project for raising happy, well socialized puppies, led to her puppy socialization nights that have been ongoing since 1999. These free sessions help puppies learn appropriate play and prevent the development of fear and aggression, and help owners to understand normal play, read body language and recognize interaction issues.
She is the primary veterinarian with B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs that provides professionally trained Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, and OSI (Operational Stress Injury)-PTSD Service Dogs. She volunteers many hours examining and vaccinating new litters as well as overseeing the care at the hospital of the breeding dogs, puppies in training, as well as consulting on program health protocols.
Dr. O'Brien is also proud to be one of team that takes care of our local amazing dogs Puma - Justice Facility Dog with Kim Gramlich, (and Puma's predecessor Caber, Canada's first Victim Services Facility Dog) along with Sydney - Pacific Assistance Dogs Accredited Facility Dog with Sue Baker.
When not at the hospital Dr. O'Brien is home with her husband and looking after her 19 year old cat Gaius and her allergic but super personable Pit Bull Jamal.
