About Us

Dr.Charach/Experience

In 1994 Dr. Mike Charach became the first Board Certified Animal Dermatologist in Western Canada and thus becoming third Canadian Board Certified. Currently there are approximately 200 actively practicing Veterinary Dermatologists in North America.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology (Honours) at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Charach's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree was achieved from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 1980.

After practicing 10 years of general medicine & surgery in Richmond, Dr. Charach was accepted to the two year dermatology residency program at the University of Florida.  During this time, Dr. Charach had the opportunity to visit and work with some of the leaders in Veterinary Dermatology at the University of California, the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania.  He also has worked with some of the leading human allergist and dermatologists in British Columbia.

After his dermatology residency, a rigorous two day board certifying exam at the University of Illinois was successfully completed in 1994.

Each year the American College of Veterinary Dermatology holds intense four day continuing education dermatology seminars. These seminars keep Dr. Charach and his fellow veterinary dermatologists up to date of the latest advances in the field of veterinary dermatology.

Dr. Charach has been allergy skin testing dogs in British Columbia since 1987, and frequently reviews his allergy tests to keep them applicable to our geographical area and the growing needs of our patients.

Our Team

Sabrina MacDonald
(Office Manager & Full time Veterinary Assistant)

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, she grew up on a little hobby farm where her love of animals was developed. She graduated High School in 1997 from the Amherst Regional High School then immediately attended The Maritime Business College, Veterinary Assistant Course and completed that in 1998.

She moved to B.C. in August 2000 with her boyfriend (now husband) and two other friends. All four squished into her Toyota Tercel, camped across Canada with nothing more that a backpack full of clothes and their tent.

After a few false starts, shoveling horse dung, telemarketing and a few months at a lottery booth she started work at the Animal Dermatology Clinic, almost exactly one year after arriving in BC, August 2001.

She currently lives in New Westminster with her husband, one Australian Shepherd “Slyder” & 3 cats “Gobbles”, “Daddy’s Kitty” & “Melvin”

In her free time she enjoys Scrapbooking, reading, camping, scrapbooking, taking her dog on hikes and to the beach, scrapbooking, collecting pens and did I mention scrapbooking. She also volunteers each week to Big Sisters of the lower mainland, and spends time with her “Little Sister”. You can find Sabrina at the clinic Monday to Friday, working alongside Dr. Charach, doing her best to run a smooth and efficient practice and working to help clients with any questions they may have.

Crystal Leung
(Weekend Veterinary Assistant)

Hello! My name is Crystal Leung and I am a Part-Time Veterinary Assistant at the Animal Dermatology Clinic of BC. I was born in Hong Kong and I came to Vancouver in 1994. I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science degree in 2007 and currently work full-time at St. Paul’s Hospital as a Research Technician. But my love for animals inspired me to join the clinic in December 2007. I was mostly trained on the job, but it totally helped to have been around pets all my life! I have two dogs, “Money” the Husky-Border Collie mix, and “Lucky” the Cocker Spaniel. Unfortunately, they are both with my parents in Hong Kong now since they moved back in 2006 and there is a no pet policy where I live. Although I see them almost everyday on the webcam, but it’s not the same. So working at the clinic here and volunteering at the SPCA really help alleviate the emptiness that I feel when my beloved doggies are so far away. I also volunteer with CNIB and St. Paul’s Hospital every week so my schedule is quite packed! When I do have some free time, I like to do cross-stitching, go for a bike ride, or just sit back at home and listen to my favorite tunes. I am fluent in Cantonese and have done translations for Dr. Charach and other clients, so if you need assistance, don’t hesitate to come see me in the clinic on Saturdays!