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Our Team

Our head veterinarian, Dr. Alex Sunarich, has been living and working in this North Toronto neighborhood since 1991.Our associate veterinarian Dr. Erica Sunarich has been working at Orchard Grove Animal Clinic for many years, and has lived in the neighborhood for all her life. Dr. Alex, Dr. Erica and their team take pride in providing high quality veterinary medicine in a warm, compassionate and highly personalized environment. We understand what it means to love a pet, and we understand how you feel when your pet gets sick. We are genuinely concerned for the wellbeing and comfort of both you and your pet. We will treat you and your pet like family. You will always be taken care of by warm and friendly staff, and we will do our best to ensure you will always see the same veterinarian, to allow for continuity of care. All of us here strongly believe that a visit to the vet should be a pleasant and calm experience for both you and your pet, and we do our best to make it that way. It is our goal to make your pet’s visit with us as free from fear and stress as possible.

Established in 1993, Orchard Grove Animal Clinic is a compassion-centered practice providing a full range of diagnostic and treatment options for dogs and cats. In addition to many standard pet care products, we also offer a range of nutritional supplements and natural products. If you have any questions about our hospital or procedures, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Dr. Alex

“Dr. Alex” has been a veterinarian for over 29 years. He received a B.Sc. in Biology from McMaster University and subsequently, his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College (University of Guelph) in 1986. His areas of special interest include Pain Management, Dentistry, Internal Medicine and Dermatology. Dr. Sunarich has also completed certificate courses in Dentistry, Dermatology, Ophthalmology and Veterinary Surgery in order to enhance his skills. He is also a keen participant in various Continuing Education programs in order to continuously expand his knowledge of conditions, diagnostic techniques and new treatments. With so many of us feeling like we are ‘just another number’, Dr. Alex has made compassionate, patient listening a cornerstone of his practice. He feels that it is important for pet owners to be able to voice their concerns openly and completely and then works with the ‘pet parents’ to ensure that both pet and ‘pet parent’ receive the care which is needed and which addresses all of the concerns. To Dr. Alex, it is important that clients feel that their concerns are completely understood and properly addressed. Because of this, appointments and consultations may take more time than one might expect, in keeping with the philosophy that a pet owner should never feel rushed or pressured. In his own words; “My life’s work is dedicated to helping pets and their families, to maintaining the highest standards of compassionate medical care so that my patients can live long and happy lives with their families.” Dr. Alex lives and works in the North Toronto neighborhood which he loves, with his wife and two kids, and a black cat named Luna.

Dr. Erica

Dr.Erica Sunarich graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2022, and has joined the practice as an associate veterinarian. She completed her Bachelors of Science at the University of Guelph prior to her DVM degree. Growing up with her father Dr. Alex Sunarich, she has always been surrounded by animals. She has spent many summers working at the clinic getting to know everyone and their furry family members, and loves building connections with both the people and pets. She has a passion for nurturing the human animal bond and believes that a strong veterinary-client relationship is essential to providing her patients with proper care. Her special interests include client communications, dermatology, surgery, ophthalmology, anesthesia, and pain management. She hopes to continue practicing the high level of veterinary care that her father does, and help her patients live long, happy and healthy lives.
Erica enjoys spending her free time hiking, reading, and with her friends and family…including her 8 year old black cat Luna! 

Laura

Laura brings with her over 20 years of experience in a variety of veterinary clinic settings. Her outgoing personality and love for animals, as well as her considerable knowledge and technical expertise has earned her the position as Office Manager at Orchard Grove Animal Clinic. She continues to excel through ongoing participation in various continuing education programs. She enjoys spending time with her 34 year old (Lola), amazon parrot, and 7 year old (Thelma), shep/husky mix.  Pictured is 9 year old (Hailey), beagle – her 4 legged grandchild.

Melanie

Melanie started off as a co-op student in a small animal clinic in downtown Toronto, at the age of 16. Observing the treatment of animals sparked a desire to get into the veterinary technician field. She enjoys building relationships with clients and their pets. Melanie went to school for the Veterinary Technician Program in Windsor, ON, where she lived for 3 years and has been a Registered Veterinary Technician ever since. Her two year old cat named Skye is pictured in the photo. Skye was only 4 weeks old when Melanie took her in.

Mariana

With over seven years as a veterinarian in Brazil, including a specialized post-degree in feline care, Mariana brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for animal well-being to our clinic in Canada. Currently serving as a vet assistant, she aspires to further contribute by pursuing veterinary licensure in this new environment. Back in Brazil she shared her life with three cats and two dogs, the youngest being Amelie, the two-year-old black and white cute cat in the picture. She is genuinely thrilled to be part of the clinic’s family, dedicating her expertise to the health and happiness of our furry companions.