WELCOME!
35+ years as local Vets in Warkworth
Based in Warkworth, we have families who bring their pets to the clinic from surrounding areas – from Puhoi to Kaipara Flats and Matakana, Omaha, Snells Beach, Leigh, and up to Wellsford.
We’re a small, close-knit team, invested in our veterinary clinic – and in your pets and animals.
We hope you’ll get to know us over the course of your visits.
Meet the Paws & Claws Team
Tania Govan & squeak
Tania graduated from Massey in 2010. She spent time at the clinic, then known as Vet Farm & Pet as a Veterinary student. It was here she met a lost little blue penguin that walked up Hill St and ended up in the clinic! Tania gained much experience in both Geraldine and Auckland before settling down with her family in Matakana and joining the team here at Paws & Claws permanently. She has a special interest in small animal medicine and surgery.
In her spare time she enjoys swimming, cycling, running and drinking coffee.
Anna Tiernan and Pipi
Anna has been a Vet for over 20 years. She joined our team in 2021 after working at a Small Animal practice in Auckland.
Anna’s favourite thing about being a Vet is seeing animals that were unwell return to the clinic healthy, happy and showing off their personalities.
Anna lives in Warkworth with her family. In her spare time Anna can be seen zooming down a mountain on skis or supporting her family at various sports events.
ROSS Lynch & ALFIE
The foundations of the clinic’s strong reputation come down to the hard work of Ross over many years serving the Warkworth community and the positive word of mouth this generates. After years of sailing his way around various parts of the world, and meeting his wife, they decided Warkworth was the nicest area they’d seen in their travels and decided to settle here. Ross qualified from Massey in 1974 and has mentored other vets in the clinic in how to deal with the trickiest of patients.
The owner of the Vet, Farm & Pet clinic from 1985, until just recently, he believes he was led to becoming a vet from early in his life. If he’s not at the clinic, you might see Ross out riding an Indian motorbike, or playing in the Warkworth Big Band.
Antoinette Human & Otis
Meridith joined the Paws & Claws team in July 2026, making the move to New Zealand from the West Coast of the US with her husband. She has been a Vet for 15 years and owned her own practice in the States for 11 of them. Meridith has a special interest in caring for the “silver seniors,” helping older pets stay comfortable and well into their later years through preventative care and early diagnosis.
In her spare time, Meridith loves exploring her new country, hiking and travelling the world with her husband, a pilot, who often flies them off to tour around new places.
Antoinette Human & Otis
Antoinette joined the Paws & Claws team in 2024 as our Practice Manager. Originally from South Africa, she completed her veterinary nursing studies there and has worked across a range of practices in both South Africa and New Zealand.
She’s passionate about patient care and making sure the clinic runs smoothly behind the scenes, always ensuring every animal receives a high standard of attention and care.
Antoinette loves hiking, camping and surfing. Late last year she completed the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal, which says a lot about her adventurous spirit.
Jo Chapman & Kiko
Jo joined our team in 2022 after completing a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. Jo takes great care of all the animals she looks after, making sure they all get lots of cuddles and attention.
In the weekends Jo enjoys playing softball and spending time with her two daughters (and many pets!).
Jo Burke & Rocky
We were lucky enough to have Jo join the Paws & Claws team in 2024, with a decision to follow one of her passions – animals, big & small. Her happy place is pottering around doing jobs on her lifestyle block, generally with a few animals in tow helping out (or hindering as the case may be!).
When she gets some down time, she loves getting out trekking the countryside with horse Dusty.
Bree Caine & Paddington
Bree brings over 20 years of customer service experience to Paws & Claws, including time as a regional sole-charge flight attendant, so she’s well used to keeping things calm and running smoothly.
With her warm nature and genuine love of people, Bree has a lovely way of making clients feel at ease from the moment they walk through the door. She enjoys welcoming familiar faces, supporting the team and being surrounded by animals every day.
Outside of work, Bree loves spending time with her husband and daughters, cooking and catching up with friends..
Joy Ausan & Molly
Joy has a passion and love for pets. After ten years working as a Veterinary Nurse in Singapore, Joy made the move to New Zealand to join our team. She believes that you should love your work and treat each patient as your own. Joy prides herself in taking excellent care of her furry patients.
In her spare time, Joy loves hiking, travelling and spending quality time with family & friends.
Sophie Hatfull & POSSUM
We were lucky to have Sophie join the clinic in 2016 after completing a Certificate in Vet Nursing from Vet Nurse Plus.
When she’s not caring for animals at the clinic, she’s doing so in her spare time – whether it be enjoying spending time with her own dog, or helping out on her partner’s family farm. She does manage to fit in some social hockey too.
Tori Hai & Boogie
Tori joined the clinic to complete her vet nursing student placement, and has since stayed with the Paws and Claws team. She’s passionate about learning and providing the best care, she loves comforting animals and welcoming people with a smile to make them feel at ease.
Tori loves travelling, and taking her dog for hikes in the great outdoors.
The entire team are fantastic.
We have many and varied pets, quite a few with special needs. Having vets that take such great care of our pets through the minor and major procedures that they have been through means a lot to us. Our dogs, especially, love seeing Ross, Tania, Anna and the ladies at reception. It’s incredibly comforting knowing that my dogs enjoy going to the vets, which can be attributed to the calm and welcoming people that work there.
Thank you so much.
I have been a client of the clinic based in Warkworth for 20 years. Ross Lynch and staff have always been knowledgeable and caring and always there for you and your pets. Knowledgeable and caring and go over and above their duties as do their staff. A great Vet Clinic to deal with.
About Us
Paws & Claws in Warkworth is made up of a small, close-knit team, invested in providing exceptional care for your pets - at our locally owned and operated veterinary clinic.
Paws & Claws Veterinary Clinic
8 Elizabeth St, Warkworth 0910
See Map
Phone 09 425 8793
Email [email protected]
Clinic Hours
Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm
Sat 9am - 1pm
After Hours
On-call until 9pm, 7 days
After Hours / Emergency
Call the clinic on 09 425 8793 to be diverted to the on-call vet, until 9pm.
After 9pm? Contact Animal Referral Centre - ARC Vets for specialist and emergency care.