Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

Growing up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, I always knew I would work with animals. However, becoming a veterinarian was a long and winding road. I loved to play with the animals my parents had at home and at the pet store they owned. As a teenager, my mother worked as a veterinary technician at the Houston Zoo, and my after-school time was spent there, behind the scenes. Some of my fondest memories are of watching the veterinary team work to save the old bull elephant, and observing the veterinarian as he performed necropsies. 

Although I began my undergraduate work in Sacramento, California, I completed my veterinary degree at Texas A&M University in 1996. I enjoyed practicing as a general practice veterinarian, getting to know my patients and their owners, providing them with the best care I could, and being part of their lives from beginning to end. Being able to make a difference in an animal's life is the best part of being a vet. So many animals need an advocate in their lives—someone to speak up for them when no one else listens—that's what I'm meant to do! 

I have lost many pets over the years and every one of them was difficult for me. It's one thing to know that you're doing the right thing for your pet, but it's totally different to have to do it yourself. I think the situations when I may have waited too long to make the decision have had the most significant impact on my thoughts about end of life care. Choosing the right time to say goodbye is an extremely difficult decision for anyone to make, but I believe that quality should be prioritized over quantity, and every soul should be allowed to pass peacefully, with as little pain as possible.

Every pet, whether a dog, cat, or horse, should be able to die with dignity at home, surrounded by those who love them. While I may not be able to physically do many of the things I once took for granted and enjoyed while practicing equine work, this is a gift that I can still provide for the animals and the people who love and respect them. 

When I am not working, I enjoy woodworking, stained glass art, and restoring and repurposing furniture (and other found objects). I also plan on interrupting one of my horse's retirement plans and getting back in the saddle soon.