Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I spent my childhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, visiting nearby Dollywood, swimming, and playing ultimate frisbee with friends. Like many veterinarians, I had pets growing up and loved animals of all kinds. For me, there was never any question about my future career. 

I obtained my undergraduate degree from Iowa State University, then attended veterinary school at the University of Tennessee. I have worked in wildlife rehabilitation, general practice, emergency medicine, and surgery, but I find that helping pets remain comfortable in their final months, weeks, or moments to be the most rewarding part of being a veterinarian.

I lost my first heart cat, Daisy, after my first year of veterinary school. It happened suddenly, and it was devastating for me. As a pet owner and vet, I understand the deep connection between families and their pets, and how hard it can be to make the decision to help them pass. Our pets loom large in our lives, even though they are with us for only a short time. 

Allowing pets to pass peacefully in their own homes, surrounded by the people they love and who love them, is an incredible gift. Through my work with Lap of Love, I can provide the service I would want for my own pets to other pet owners. I feel great empathy for pet owners suffering from the pain of loss, and I want to ease that pain by providing the best possible end-of-life experience.

Outside of work, I love to write. I am currently completing a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing and working on a fantasy series about a veterinarian who stumbles into an alternate world and begins treating the mythical creatures who live there. Writing is a passion and an outlet for me, and I also enjoy attending conferences to meet other writers.