About Us

Our Mission


Mahogany Veterinary Clinic is an independently run vet clinic that believes in quality pet care with options for your furry family members. At Mahogany Vet, we understand that not all treatment plans may fit with your personal vision for pet health care. We will work closely with you to come up with a plan for your pet’s health care that suits you, works for your family and stays within your budget. Mahogany Veterinary Clinic employs an amazing group of people that are dedicated to keeping pets healthy and happy. We are excited to be able to offer top quality diagnostic and treatment options as well as to provide advice and support needed to our pet families.                                 

                       


Kristin South

A graduate of the University of Calgary with a combined BA/BSc, Kristin has been working in customer service and management since 2001.  In 2009, she joined the veterinary community in an customer service role for a busy 24 hour emergency and referral practice in Calgary, and over that time has worked in a variety of managerial positions: allowing her to learn the ins and outs of the veterinary field, as well as develop an extensive network of veterinary contacts across North America.  A consistent comment that is made of her is that she constantly goes over and above to make sure that clients and patients are treated with the utmost care and compassion, whether the family friend is coming in for a nail trim, a spay, or for something unexpected.  She is a full time mom to two amazing tiny humans as well as “fur-mom” to three rescue cats named Crush, Loki, and Stetson, as well as one Labrador cross named Rogue. Kristin is looking forward to bringing her commitment, passion, and love of animals to families even more directly as she begins her work with the Mahogany Veterinary Clinic.                          

                       


 

 

Dr. Crystal Makwana DVM


Dr. Crystal Makwana was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2002. After graduation she relocated to Rochester, New York where she completed a one year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery. That is where she fell in love with emergency medicine and more complex medical cases! Crystal moved to Calgary in 2006, and has been working in Small Animal and Emergency/Referral Centres ever since. She joined the Mahogany Veterinary Clinic family in June 2021. Crystal's primary interests include more complex medical cases and palliative care, and she is passionate about communication. Her love of Veterinary Medicine has come naturally after watching her veterinarian father growing up. She has a lot of early memories of spending time in his mixed animal clinic watching cow surgeries as a kid! Outside of the clinic, Crystal has a family with two little kids and one pitbull cross named Stella. She loves staying active with family time, trips to the library, yoga, and camping.



                       


Dr. Hailey Basler BSc. DVM


Dr. Basler was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and moved to Calgary, AB while in elementary school. She attended the University of Calgary where she completed her Bachelors degree in Zoology. Shortly thereafter, she attended the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan where she completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation Dr. Basler jumped right into work and joined the Mahogany Veterinary team. She has a passion for small animal oral health, surgical procedures and promoting preventive health in your furry family members. Outside of work Dr. Basler likes to spend her free time mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding and relaxing with her husband and goldendoodle Finnley.



                              


Dr. Leah Beckstead BSc.DVM


Dr. Beckstead was born in Airdrie, AB, and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Alberta. Immediately following, she completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary. Wanting to advance her training, she completed a small animal internship with rotations focused on Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Oncology, Surgery, Anesthesia, Dentistry, and Neurology. She continued to work in specialty care as part of their Emergency team prior to transitioning into primary care. Her main interests are Dentistry, Anesthesia, and Internal Medicine. She welcomes complex cases and loves developing a special bond with her patients. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and two young girls, as well as their two dogs, Tate and Luna.



         


Dr. Holly Lowther DVM


Dr. Lowther was born in the small town of Crossfield, Alberta where she grew up in a house full of animals before moving to Edmonton to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Animal Health at the University of Alberta. In 2018 she was accepted into the University of Calgary's Veterinary Medicine program where she completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. She is a new addition to Mahogany Veterinary Clinic's team and is passionate about building long-term relationships with clients and their pets. She enjoys preventative medicine, surgery, and is looking forward to expanding her knowledge in diagnostic imaging. In her free time she enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and hanging out with her old-man kitty Mickey.



                        

Merissa Wilkinson

Prior to working In the Veterinary Industry Merissa worked in retail developing her amazing customer service and management skills. She graduated from the Veterinary Office Assistant and Technician Assistant program at ABES in 2005 and started her Veterinary career a few years later. Merissa has always grown up around animals. She was a proud volunteer at an animal shelter before she could walk and talk thanks to her mom who worked there. One of Merissa’s goals in the Veterinary industry is to ensure every client and pet has a positive experience at our practice through creating a fear free environment for the pet and ensuring the client understands our goal is to not only create a bond with them but their pet as well. Another one of Merissa’s passions is end of life care for families with aging or terminally ill pets and took some courses through AAHA. She even spent a few years at a Pet Crematorium as well to strengthen her understanding and compassion for Families when they are helping their pet cross the Rainbow Bridge. When Merissa is not at work she is either hanging out with her dog Jetta and guinea pig Rigby, crafting, playing video games, hiking or camping.                          

                       


 

                             

April Russell

After spending ten years working for agencies that supported individuals with disabilities, April decided on a career change which led her into the field of veterinary medicine. She joined the team at a busy 24 hour emergency and referral hospital in Calgary as a Client Care Coordinator where she was taught the ins and outs of the veterinary field. She remained there for two years at which time she moved to a primary care practice in Okotoks. April accepted a position with Mahogany Vet Clinic in 2018 as a Client Care Specialist. She shares her home with a Biewer Terrier named Chloe and a poly dactyl cat named Digit. April is compassionate, professional and customer care is extremely important to her as she strives to provide exceptional service to all of our clients and pets alike that come through the doors of Mahogany Vet Clinic.

                       


                           

Shayleene Riedlinger

Shayleene Joined the Mahogany Vet Clinic Team in August of 2019. Her love and dedication to the health and well-being of animals led her to take the Veterinary Technical Assistant Course at Olds College. Graduating in 2014. From there she joined the staff at Groomingtails Pet Spa where she remained for 4 years, before entering the Veterinary industry. She is always looking for opportunities to better herself as a person. Her passion is animals, she enjoys spending her free time with her 4 cats Peanut, Brooke, Mac and Sheena as well as her Shepherd Heeler cross named Pepper, Husky mix named Eros and Pomsky named Aurora. She looks forward to greeting you and your furbaby every morning with a friendly smile on her face.

                       


                           

Melissa Aspenlieder RVT


Melissa hails from Saskatchewan and joined the staff at Mahogany Veterinary Clinic for its grand opening in June of 2017. An accomplished veterinary technician, Melissa graduated from the University of Alberta in 2008 with a Bachelors of Biological Science with a specialization in Animal Biology.  Subsequently, in 2011, she graduated from NAIT with Honours from their Animal Health Technician Program.
Melissa has a natural affinity for emergency veterinary care and she perfected her skills while working as a Triage and ICU technician at the CARE Centre in Calgary for two years before joining the team at Signal Hill Animal Clinic where she remained for 3 years.
Despite her calm and professional manner in any veterinary emergency situation, Melissa is also known for her wonderful sense of humor and her infectious laugh brightens every working day.

 

 


Kaylee Dales RVT


Kaylee is a born and raised Calgarian with a love for dogs, especially golden retrievers. Kaylee graduated from the Olds College Veterinary Technician program in 2010 and quickly fell in love with Emergency Medicine. After years of working mainly overnights in a fast paced ER practice she decided to slow things down and make the switch to general practice, all while starting a family. Shortly after returning from maternity leave Kaylee joined the Mahogany Veterinary Clinic and couldn't be more thrilled to reunite with the people she most enjoyed working with in emergency medicine years ago. Kaylee is well known as the clinic's "Golden Retriever lover" and is often found swooning over and giving belly rubs to any Golden that walks through the door. Kaylee and her family are proud to call the community of Mahogany home and when she isn't working or spending time with family, Kaylee can often be found running around the wetlands or swimming at the lake. Kaylee is an avid runner/triathlete and has completed multiple Ironman triathlons and marathons and is currently working towards qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Kaylee is owned and loved by a beautiful golden retriever named Taia and two rescue kitties named Tigs & Tito.