Asta has been a practicing veterinary surgeon since graduating from Edinburgh University in 1995. She worked in small animal general practice, both in the UK and abroad, up until taking on the post of Veterinary Forensic Case Officer with the Scottish SPCA in October 2022. Asta also holds a BSc in Veterinary Pathology, and MSc in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law.

As a general small animal clinician with over 25 years of experience she worked in a wide variety of settings, from high quality training facilities in the UK to more rudimental and developing clinics in the Middle and Far East and Africa, where welfare challenges that people and animals face can be extreme.

Upon joining the Society, she authored the Scottish SPCA Veterinary Casework Pack, which is now available to private vets through the Society’s website. Her primary focus as VFCO is to support inspectors and vets with welfare cases, ranging from early decision making to evidence handling and witness statements. She has also been integral to the roll out of the in-house Quality of Life assessments and is currently compiling a series of clinical guidelines for Scottish SPCA veterinary and rescue centre teams.