Meet The Team
Practice Manager
Karla Brown
Karla is our amazing Practice Manager and is responsible for the day to day running of our practice behind the scenes. However will turn her hand to anything including DIY!
She is always there to listen and ensures we are all ok throughout the day.
Outside of work Karla loves nothing more than spending time with her family especially the little man in her life.
Karla has achieved the Diploma of Veterinary Leadership and Management.
So thank you, you are the mother and superwoman of the practice
Our Vets
Lindsey Burgess BVSc MRCVS
Lindsey joined us in September 2022 and is our Joint Head Vet (along with her husband Devon). She is Zimbabwean and studied in South Africa. She has worked in rural settings with emergency and PAHC from dogs and cats to hyena and lions also in equine.
Within the veterinary field Lindsey has a special interest in dentistry (small animal and exotics).
Lindsey is married to Devon (one of the emergency night vets) they have written a book series together which is being published this year!
Outside of work Lindsey has 3 dogs, loves the outdoors, hiking and adventure sports.
Keep smiling you are a true gem and we are lucky to have you and your wonderful energy.
Devon Seaton BVSc MRCVS
Devon is our Joint Head Vet (with his wife Lindsey). In his words, what an adventure they have already had and continue to have –
Sewn under the African sun, I grew up in South Africa where I studied at Onderstepoort beneath the guidance of lions and lecturers alike. Although exciting, I was destined for the UK where the rainy weather called my name. Having worked in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Scotland and now England, I feel that I have found my home here in Louth.
When I am not working at the best job ever, I can be found walking with my savage hounds, writing fantasy novels, playing musical instruments or upon the nearest enactment field with some burly folk clad in armour swinging axes at my head.
I joined the ELEV and Blacksheep vets team in September of 2022 with my wonderful wife, Lindsey.
These are clinics dedicated to serving the community and striving for excellence in veterinary medical care, as such, there were high expectations for me when joining. With their strong emphasis on teamwork and patient care, they’ve guided me to becoming the vet I am today and now, together, we strive for the gold standard of veterinary care whilst maintaining the Louth spirit and values in everything we do.
Laura Buckland BVetMed CertAVP(VD) PgCert MRCVS
Laura joined our team in 2024 and is interested in all things skin! She qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2008 gained her certificate in dermatology in 2024. She is now an Advanced Practitioner in veterinary dermatology, and regularly attends UK, European and World conferences for the latest information and ideas.
Laura is happy to accept referrals and second opinions for challenging skin cases to help solve your pets achy and lumpy skin problems.
Isabel Galan Cordero MRCVS
After dealing with horses in Spain following graduation, Isabel elected to leave sunny Spain and join our Black Sheep team in Louth.
Isabel has her own beautiful dog Simone and is currently undertaking a 1 year course in GP mastery.
Lottie Hopwood BVSc MRCVS
Another local Lincolnshire vet, Lottie has recently qualified, and has joined us full time after spending the last couple of years seeing practice with us here at Black Sheep Vets.
Despite being recently graduated, Lottie has seen an extensive range of emergency cases with us through East Lincs Emergency Vets.
Our Vet Nurses
Kate Elshaw RVN Head Nurse
Kate is our incredible head nurse and manages both our nursing team, the animal care team and the student nurses as well as being responsible for the clinical care of our patients.
Kate has undertaken further study in many aspects of nursing care, most recently in transfusion care and medicine, something we are doing more and more in the emergency area.
Harriet Smith RVN
Within the veterinary field Harriet loves Anaesthesia, Schedule 3, Surgery and Geriatrics, she is a fountain of knowledge.
Outside of work Harriet enjoys nothing more than spending time with her family, walking with her gorgeous doggies, horse riding, looking after all her pets, helping out with the turkeys and generally just enjoying life.
Keep smiling Harriet as you’re beautiful inside and out and a credit to our team.
Hannah Pocklington RVN
Her interests within the veterinary field are Surgical Nursing, Radiography and Wound Care.
Outside of work Hannah loves spending time with her family, walking the dogs with Ralph the cat who likes to join them; and baking.
You have fitted in so well keep up the great work and smiling like you always do.
Eloise Scales RVN
Eloise has a keen interest in Orthopaedic surgery and is often the first to offer to scrub in and assist our surgeon. She also enjoys anaesthesia as well as meeting you and your wonderful furry family during nurse consults.
Outside of work Eloise enjoys long country walks with her Golden Retriever, Lola. Family days out and baking are also close to her heart. We look forward to sampling her chocolate cake and cookies.
Jo Harper RVN
Jo started her veterinary nurse training in 1991 and qualified in 1994. Jo joined us in March 2023 and is a true gem in our team. Jo enjoys surgical nursing, radiography and nursing patients back to health. Outside of work, Jo enjoys spending time with her family, seeing friends and walking her dog Tink. Jo also has two cats called Ron and Tia.
Jo North RVN
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, walking, socialising with friends and family days out with my husband and my boys.
Becky Short Student Veterinary Nurse
Outside of work Becky loves nothing more than spending time with her family and doggies.
Always smiling and super friendly you are a star of this practice so keep up the great work Becky – we love you to bits.
Ella Wrisdale Student Veterinary Nurse
Ella embarked on her journey as a Student Veterinary Nurse in 2022.
She is extremely hard working and no job is too small a true gem of the practice and nursing team.
Outside of work Ella enjoys time with her family and friends, walking her dogs and playing with their newest member the cat.
Keep up the great work Ella.
Amy – Student Veterinary Nurse
She joins us everyday with a welcoming smile and is super organised throughout the week.
Amy enjoys cooking, walking her dog, reading, when time, as is also a busy mum to 2 children and has 2 Guinea pigs who are pictured here.
So welcome to our ever expanding team keep up the great work.
Animal Care Assistants
Jess Drewery
Jess moved roles and stepped in to join the Veterinary Nursing Team as a Animal Care Assistant (ACA) in 2022. She always carries out her day with a smile.
Outside of work Jess’s true love is her family. She has a keen interest in horses and has just added to her family with a furry baby and a very photogenic cat.
Jess you are beautiful inside and out and we are lucky to have you.
Phoebe Fussey
Phoebe performs one of the roles that you often don’t see as a pet owner – all the behind the scenes things, such as making sure everything is ready for operations, kits are clean and sterilised, and assisting with a lot of the animal care side when your pets are with us as inpatients.
Reception/Administration Team
Jo Roberts Clinical Care Manager
Jo in her spare time loves a little gardening , reading, lovely country walks and socialising.
So welcome Jo to our team, thank you for making us laugh and for doing an amazing job.
Leanne Evison
Leanne is one of the more experienced members of our reception team who you will see first when you enter the practice front door. She will make sure that your experience in the practice is of the highest standards and that your pet has the best time possible (in the circumstances)
Dianne Baxter-Skaife
Dianne’s smiley face will also greet you when you enter the practice. Our reception teams job is to help you both with the practical side of booking appointments and paying bills, along with ensuring that you understand what is going on and where to wait with your pet.
Lisa Ashton
Lisa joined our reception team in 2025 to help welcome you to the practice and make sure that you and your pets stay with us is as comfortable as possible, she will help show you to the separate cat and dog waiting areas, or if its a sunny day, perhaps to the bench outside in the garden to sit if you prefer.
Carol Snell
Carol will probably be the reception team member you see after you have seen the vet. She will help answer any questions and arrange future appointments as well – if there’s anything that you are unsure of, please ask her.
Steve Goodear –
Practice Owner & Veterinary Surgeon
Steven has been a veterinary surgeon and practice owner for over 20 years and has been the proud owner of Black Sheep Vets since 2020.
In 2021, Steven established East Lincs Emergency Vets which is based within Black Sheep Vets in Louth. Steven’s ethos is to provide the highest standard of medical and surgical care for pets and owners in Lincolnshire around the clock.
Steven is married with a young family, which also includes horses, dogs and cats. His interests include completing his house renovations, along with attending veterinary conferences to continue his learning and development (ideally somewhere hot and sunny).
He is particularly interested in training and looking after his veterinary team, loves all things animal and is extremely caring.
Steven is always looking for a new project, so watch this space.