Harrison Veterinary Clinic

A Local Vet Clinic in Harrison Built on Real Relationships

There are vets, and then there are veterinary clinics that genuinely feel like part of the neighbourhood. Harrison Veterinary Clinic is firmly in the second category.

Founded by Dr Karina Harding, a Canberra local who grew up in Gungahlin and spent over two decades working in small animal and emergency care across the capital, this clinic opened in January 2025 with a clear philosophy: good veterinary care starts with genuine relationships. Not with a corporate checklist. Not with a revolving door of practitioners you never get to know. With a real, ongoing connection between the team, the clients, and the animals they care for.

What to Expect When You Walk Through the Door

The first thing you will notice is how welcoming the space feels. The clinic is spotlessly clean and thoughtfully designed, with easy parking right out front. There are separate waiting areas for cats and dogs, which already tells you something about how carefully the team thinks about the experience of every animal that comes through. Anxious pets are handled with particular care. Sometimes a consultation happens in the waiting room because a nervous dog simply does better with more space. Sometimes the owner and pet are settled into the treatment room early, away from the noise and bustle, just to take the edge off. This kind of considered, flexible approach is not an afterthought here. It is the standard.

Dr Karina Harding and the Harrison Vet Team

Karina holds a Bachelor of Science from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honours from the University of Melbourne. She has worked across small animal and emergency practices throughout Canberra and spent time practising in the United Kingdom before returning home to build something of her own. Her professional interests include complex case workups, senior patient care, dermatology, and emergency presentations, which means that when something complicated comes up, you pet is in experienced hands.

Clients consistently describe her as someone who listens. As a first-time dog owner put it, “Dr. Karina is so knowledgeable and takes the time to understand our concerns”. That sentiment comes up again and again in the feedback from people who have visited the clinic. When your pet is actually looking forward to their vet visit, as one client shared about their dog Bruno, that isn’t something that happens by accident.

Comprehensive Veterinary Care for Dogs, Cats and More

Harrison Vet offers a broad range of services, including wellness exams and vaccinations, diagnostics, dentistry, dermatology, senior pet health, dog and cat care, and care for pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens. For more complex cases, the clinic works closely with local specialists, including dermatology, ophthalmology, and surgical specialists, and has a visiting surgeon who comes in for more involved procedures. The team will accomodate urgent cases wherever possible so you’re left worrying about your pet’s health. There is a streamlined online platform on Harrison Vet’s website to make booking an appointment simple and fast.

One of the team’s nurses has a background in rehabilitation, bringing massage, TENS therapy, and post-operative recovery programs to the clinic as well. It is the kind of integrated, holistic thinking that Karina describes as the most rewarding part of veterinary medicine: being able to be involved across so many different areas of care rather than outsourcing every step.

A Community Minded Practice That Gives Back

Beyond the clinic itself, Harrison Vet has been actively involved in the wider Canberra community. The team has worked with the ACT Pet Crisis Fund and the Tiny Clinic and has supported the Canberra Street Cat Alliance. Karina is deeply connected to the Canberra veterinary community and has built the kind of referral relationships with specialists and allied practitioners that mean her clients get warm, joined-up care rather than being passed on and forgotten.

Karina’s philosophy when it comes to what makes great veterinary care is worth understanding before your first visit. She believes in what she calls contextualised care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Clear, honest communication between the vet and the owner leads to better outcomes every time, whether that means pursuing specialist referral and advanced diagnostics, or focusing on in-clinic treatment that fits the family’s situation. 

Why Harrison Vet Is Worth Making Your Regular Clinic

If you’re in the Gungahlin area and looking for a vet that will actually know your pet’s name, remember your history, and treat you like a person rather than a file number, Harrison Veterinary Clinic is worth your time. Whether you are a first-time pet owner with a hundred questions or a seasoned dog parent dealing with something complicated, the experience here is one that leaves people feeling heard, cared for, and confident that their animal is in good hands. Highly recommended!