Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I grew up in Northern California and Texas. My early childhood was spent in the small town of Petaluma nestled in the rolling hills of Sonoma County. It was an idyllic setting for an early nature-lover like myself. Every weekend, we were off exploring redwood forests, coastal beaches, or fog-filled mountain tops. Growing up in Arlington, Texas, we took advantage of our neighboring city, Fort Worth. The city offers a unique blend of cowboy culture and fine art and there was always a fun museum or park to explore.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to become a vet! I loved accompanying my mom to vet appointments. I even wrote in an early journal when I was 8 years old that I wanted to become a vet. In high school, my mom and I volunteered as wildlife rehabilitators and this was my first experience directly caring for fragile or sick animals. Though challenging at times (particularly when feeding baby squirrels around the clock), it was extremely rewarding and further fueled my interest in animal science.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and later moved across country to obtain my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Western University in Pomona, California. I currently reside in Canandaigua, New York where I have been able to live out my dream of taking care of pets. After vet school, I became particularly passionate about surgery - the skill and execution involved is satisfying to me. (Plus, my years of embroidery and crafting were great preparation for the techniques involved!). I love creative problem solving and putting together clues to find answers and explanations. I also enjoy connecting with the families of the pets, offering compassion and insight while caring for their special family members.

I’ve personally lost one of my own dearest pets, my cat Eliza. She arrived on our doorstep in Texas when I was twelve years old, and immediately bonded with me, making my room her home. While we weren’t sure of her age when we adopted her, she seemed older, so we were all surprised when she lived for another decade. It was the summertime when her health began deteriorating significantly. My family made the decision for euthanasia and we traveled with Eliza to a local veterinary clinic. While the timing was right, the experience at the end was not. Saying goodbye to my companion was agonizing and made more challenging by being in a public space. This experience shaped my desire to bring compassion and respect into end-of-life care for our pets. End of life care is a delicate area of practice. Death is not often a subject that is easy to talk about and face. Being able to provide a calming and supportive presence for the families during this period is a gratifying additional benefit of hospice care. Understanding what this process feels like inspires me in my quest to provide compassionate care for the animals and empathetic support for the people who love them.

Outside of my work as a veterinarian, I’m a big fan of being outside and love spending beautiful days on long walks or hikes. I also enjoy cooking and am always trying new recipes and plotting ways to use everything in my CSA box.