Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I am a Louisiana native but knew the heat/humidity was too much for me, so I moved to Colorado 15 years ago. I was not one of those people who always knew I wanted to be a veterinarian, in fact, my original plan was to get a Ph. D in linguistics after completing my bachelor's degree in English at Louisiana State University at Shreveport. Fortunately, I started working in a veterinary practice right out of high school and had that "ah ha" moment during my third year of undergrad that made me realize helping animals was my calling. 

Following graduation, I moved to Colorado to complete my science pre-requisites and then attended veterinary school at Colorado State University. Since graduation I have been a small animal general practitioner in Littleton, Colorado. 

Prior to starting vet school, I read the book Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and it truly changed my trajectory as it teaches us to value QUALITY of life over quantity. We in medicine are taught that death is our ultimate nemesis and to fight against it no matter the literal or physical cost, so I have made it my mission to normalize the conversations around death/dying and to teach my clients that sometimes euthanasia is the most compassionate choice we can make for our pets. I believe that every animal deserves the dignity of a peaceful passing surrounded by their loved ones and have counseled many families with end-of-life care decisions. 

I have been told time and again during a euthanasia, "this must be the hardest part of your job", and my answer is that "it is, but it isn't." It's hard knowing that a family is saying their final goodbye to a beloved pet, but I view death as a last gift we can give our loved ones in their time of suffering. I am grateful that we as veterinarians can provide this for our patients, and it is a privilege and an honor that I can be a guide for families during the most difficult decision we face as pet owners. 

In addition to this rewarding work, I am also a small animal relief veterinarian in the Denver area. I share my life with my husband and our four furry children - my old man Clancy, a 14-year-old Basset Hound, a Bloodhound named Zelda, and two Siberian cats named Margo and Ivan. When I'm not working, I enjoy reading, craft projects, spending time in the Colorado sunshine and traveling.