Our Team
Sarah K. Kirk, DVM, MS
Dr. Kirk graduated from Michigan State University in 1977 with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. In 2017, she earned her MS in Veterinary Medical Sciences, where she was introduced to the link (The Link) between animal abuse and interpersonal violence. The majority of her career has been spent as an animal shelter veterinarian in a variety of shelters, as well as time as the Medical Director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Field Investigation and Response team (investigating large-scale cruelty and neglect), and as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor with the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. After moving to Canada, she became involved with the Canadian Animal Shelter and Community Medicine Association (CASCMA) where she is currently President.
Co-Founder
Jill K. Kirk, DVM, MS
Dr. Kirk graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, along with a Certificate in Shelter Medicine. Most of her career has been spent as a shelter veterinarian, working with private nonprofit humane societies as well as large municipal shelters. In 2020 she earned her Master of Science in Shelter Medicine with a Certificate in Veterinary Forensics, where she learned about the link (The Link) between animal abuse and interpersonal violence. She has been a Board member of the Canadian Animal Shelter and Community Medicine Association (CASCMA) since 2025 and was a speaker at the Humane Canada Summit for Animals in 2026.
Co-Founder
Dr. Henderson has been involved in clinical companion animal practice in many forms since receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in 2007. Having worked in general practice, emergency medicine, house-call medicine and hospice and palliative care, she has always been most interested in the areas of veterinary medicine that allow engagement with the human side of practice. Dr. Henderson operated a successful veterinary house-call practice for 10 years, gaining certification in veterinary hospice and palliative care through the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care in 2019. Dr. Henderson also recently completed her Master of Education. Currently, Dr. Henderson is the Veterinary Director of the Kim & Stu Community Healthcare Partnership Program at the Ontario Veterinary College.