Who We Are
The Origin Story of Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services
Dr. Megan Anderson BA, MVB, CertAVP, CPEV, FFCP is the founding veterinary surgeon behind Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services.
Megan dreamt of becoming a vet from the young age of 5, and started her career as a veterinary assistant back in 2007. She continued working in small animal and exotic practices throughout her undergraduate years until completing her bachelor's degree in biochemistry, and eventually qualifying from UCD as a veterinary surgeon in 2015. She spent the next 4 years in mixed practice before deciding to focus exclusively on companion animal medicine. In 2021 she took on a Clinical Director role, and in 2023 achieved a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice from the RCVS with a focus on small animal medicine.
At the end of 2023, she welcomed a canine senior citizen named Pip into her family. At 15 years old with diabetes, cataracts, little hearing, arthritis, dementia, and a tumour over his shoulder, no one expected Pip to survive very long, and the goal was simply to make him feel as comfortable and loved as possible for his last few weeks. But Pip had other plans!
Weeks quickly turned into months, and it was clear Pip intended to stick around a little longer. His tumour continued to grow, and his diabetes required frequent monitoring and insulin dose adjustment, but his dementia and arthritic pain responded really well to medication. For another 2 years, Pip continued to love a good neck scratch after breakfast, a sniff around the garden, and a cuddle on the sofa in the evenings.
Pip proved what Megan had always told her clients. Age is just a number, not a disease. And no diagnosis, statistic, or lab report is more important than how a patient feels. When curative treatment is not an option, all hope is not lost. Palliative care can help prolong good quality of life for veterinary patients and give families meaningful time with their beloved pets.
Megan soon came to realize that there was no specific palliative and end of life care service available for pets in Ireland. She decided to change that. And so, Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services was born - Ireland's first mobile veterinary service dedicated to providing compassionate palliative, hospice, and end of life care for pets and their families in the comfort of home.
Megan covers the South Dublin and County Wicklow areas serviced by Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services.
RBVS South East
Wexford & East Waterford
In 2026, Rainbow Bridge Veterinary Services was thrilled to welcome Dr. Maria Nolan MVB, PgCert VPH, CPEV to the team, and expand our coverage area to include all of County Wexford and East Waterford.
Maria has been practising as a small animal veterinarian for over 10 years. After graduating in 2015, she began her career in the UK, working in a small animal practice in East Sussex. She later relocated to Melbourne, Australia, where she continued to develop her experience in small animal medicine.
Maria eventually returned home to Ireland and joined a Dublin-based charity, caring for shelter animals in need. This role was especially close to her heart, and she remained there for five years, gaining invaluable experience with vulnerable and senior pets. She later relocated to Wexford, where she continues to practise.
During her time in Australia, Maria saw a strong demand for acupuncture, particularly for older and arthritic animals, and witnessed first-hand the benefits it could bring to their comfort and mobility. After returning to Ireland, she undertook further training in veterinary acupuncture and has since been keen to offer this gentle therapy to elderly pets and animals in need, helping to improve their quality of life.
During her time working in the animal shelter, Maria witnessed first-hand the number of senior pets being surrendered, an experience that deeply strengthened her commitment to geriatric care and reinforced her belief that every pet deserves comfort, dignity and compassion in their later years. Through this work, she gained extensive experience in managing age-related conditions, with a strong focus on patience, understanding and maintaining quality of life.
As a pet owner, Maria has also experienced the heartbreak of saying goodbye. In recent years, she has had to say farewell to two of her own dogs, Butters and Phoebe. While these moments were incredibly difficult, she felt deeply grateful to be able to let them pass at home, surrounded by familiarity and love. Being able to offer them a calm, peaceful goodbye reassured her that she had done the very best for them, right to the end of their lives. Over the past few years practising in Wexford, Maria has recognised a growing need for a dedicated home euthanasia and palliative care service in the area. Older and unwell pets benefit greatly from the calm and familiarity of their own home, and her aim is to provide gentle, respectful care that helps ease discomfort for both pets and their families during what can be an incredibly difficult time.
