Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I was born and raised in South Africa, but with family in Germany, Holland, Argentina, and Australia, I developed a global perspective of the world. As a child, my best babysitter was a German shepherd dog who was only six months older than me. I spent much of my youth at the wildlife parks trying to satisfy my fascination with science, biology, and life. 

I earned my undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. A decade later, I attended veterinary school at UC Davis in California. I love setting puppies and kittens up for a lifetime of health with early preventive care, and I also feel that a crucial part of my job as a veterinarian is delivering compassionate end-of-life care. 

When a pet has experienced too many difficult days and suffers from a poor quality of life, it becomes essential to prevent further suffering. I have lost many pets myself, and although losing them is difficult, I find peace in knowing that they did not suffer and they passed in the home they have always known. My pets are my family, and I know the families I help feel the same way about their dogs and cats.

After 30 years in this profession, I have a deep understanding of the difficult yet selfless decision pet owners must make when animal family members become sick. Truly understanding this has influenced my decision to continue practicing end-of-life care in the twilight years of my career with Lap of Love. I have been there myself, I will be there again, and I want to help other families through this experience.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my dog and cats at home. There is always something to do, read, create, or play, or we simply relax in each other’s company. My current favorite hobby is digitizing film, home videos, and slides collected from my childhood and past generations of my family.