Meet the veterinarians
About Dr. Dave Leatherman
I was born in San Pedro, California, and grew up in nearby Manhattan Beach. The ocean and sunshine have been part of my life since I was a baby, and I love the water. I also love animals, particularly dogs, and seeing them in my younger years always brought a smile to my face, no matter how my day was going.
While attending junior college in my 20s, I excelled in science and math. I realized that, combined with my love of animals, this prepared me perfectly for a veterinary career. I transferred to UC Davis, where I earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry with a minor in animal science.
My passion for animals then took me to Perth, Western Australia, where I earned my veterinary degree from Murdoch University. During my time in vet school, I traveled to India to spay and neuter street dogs. I even adopted one of them and named her Sumitra, which means "good friend" in Hindi. I still love to travel and try to do so as often as I can.
I returned to California after graduation and held associate positions at several hospitals in Southern and Northern California, but I never found my dream job. Then I discovered relief work. I loved the variety of traveling to other hospitals and experiencing new things, including mobile vet care. I saw how helpful in-home care was for elderly clients and anxious animals.
This passion for in-home veterinary care led me to Lap of Love, which focuses on compassionate care surrounding difficult end-of-life decisions. I am humbled each time I am welcomed into another person's home to help their family cope with the aging and eventual loss of their beloved pet. This is the work I was meant to do, and I am grateful to be where I belong.
About Dr. Sara Hall
I grew up in the Fingerlakes region of New York state and always knew my path involved caring for animals. I earned degrees in marine biology and zoology before ultimately obtaining my veterinary degree at Tufts University. My career has taken me all over the country, from New York, to Florida, to Arizona, and finally to California, where I have built a life in Orange County. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to help all types of wildlife and exotic pets, in addition to cats and dogs.
My own beloved dog, Maddie, recently passed away after a long illness. She was a yellow Labrador, and had been with me since she was three days old. I did my best to make her comfortable in her final months, and knew when I needed to alleviate her suffering to help her pass in peace and love. After almost 13 years, she was able to pass in my arms, knowing that I loved her more than anything.
The majority of my work has been in the emergency medicine field. I have met many people on the worst day of their life, when they have brought their pet in with a severe illness or injury. Helping pets pass peacefully is the last gift we can give them, and was always the most rewarding aspect of my work in emergency medicine. Working with Lap of Love, I can give that peace to families and their loved ones in an environment where they feel safe and loved. I especially enjoy being able to pay forward the peace and support I experienced when helping my own sweet Maddie cross over the rainbow bridge.
About Dr. Elke Kuhl
Growing up in a family of medical professionals in Southern California, I gravitated toward the biological sciences and had a deep fondness for my animal companions. Whether I was feeding garter snakes, rescuing baby squirrels, raising chickens, or playing with my pet guinea pigs, cats, boxers, or horses, I spent much of my childhood surrounded by animals. Caring for—and losing—my first horse, Grizzly Bear, helped me realize that veterinary medicine was my purpose in life.
I received my bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and attended the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, which was the newest veterinary college in North America at that time. My four years there brought me several lifelong friends and experiences from the frozen north which I will never forget.
After graduating with my veterinary degree, I was fortunate to work with a veterinarian I had known and loved since I was a child. I was thrilled to become his associate, and I enjoyed working with him and making close connections with my pet patients and their families for 15 years.
I learned a lot about senior caregiving when I put my career on pause to care for my aging parents and their health issues. While being a caregiver is challenging work, it is done with so much love, and I am grateful that my parents and I shared that experience.
As our pets age, we often must navigate similar territory, battling their health conditions, supporting their slowing bodies, and making difficult end-of-life decisions to relieve their suffering.
When the opportunity came to join Lap of Love, I knew that I wanted to use my veterinary skills to support pets and people during a challenging time. It’s never easy saying goodbye to a pet, but I feel honored to be able to provide comfort to others with my experience, understanding, and respect for the circle of life.
About Dr. Melia Pitney
I was born in Colorado before moving to Orange County, California to complete elementary through high school. I've loved animals for as long as I can remember, but that love was also matched with my desire to help people. For a long while, I thought I was meant to become a psychologist. It actually wasn’t until two years into college, when visiting the local zoo in Colorado Springs that it dawned on me that I could be helping both animals and people at the same time. The next day I was in my academic counselor's office changing my academic focus towards veterinary medicine. I still got my degree in psychology, but added on multiple biology/chemistry courses and completed an internship in wildlife rehabilitation.
I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. I then earned my veterinary degree and a master’s degree in public health from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.
I've been lucky enough to build experience in a variety of niches of the veterinary field, from non-profit medicine to private practice. I've worked with dogs, cats, exotics, horses, ruminants, zoo animals, and wildlife. Every aspect of this field has been rewarding but my favorite part has truly been the relationships I have built with pets and their families. It is an honor to advocate for those without voices.
Having grown up with dogs and cats, I've unfortunately experienced loss. Just a few months into vet school, on Christmas Eve, my family dog, Sammy, experienced a sudden splenic tumor rupture. I was grateful to be there with my family and our dog as he gently crossed the rainbow bridge. It was then that I realized how important it was for all family members to get the peaceful passing that they deserve. It's never easy to say goodbye to our beloved family members and it will always feel like it is too soon, but helping pets and families find peace and comfort through end-of-life care and euthanasia is truly an honor and a privilege.
When I'm not working, you can probably find me watching sports, obsessively taking pictures of my own pets, and spending time with my husband, family, and friends.
About Dr. Alex Yankopoulos
I grew up in southern California, in the Los Angeles area. From an early age, I had a love of animals. Growing up, I was surrounded by horses, chickens, pigs, rabbits, dogs, and cats. I also grew up in a medical-oriented family, which led me to merge the two interests and become a veterinarian.
I completed my bachelor of animal science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and then graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with an emphasis in companion animals.
I've always enjoyed general practice and the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with my patients and clients. I've enjoyed a range of opportunities while practicing small and large animal medicine and building and managing a veterinary practice.
As a veterinarian and a pet owner, I’ve always euthanized my pets at home, in their familiar environment, to make their experience as peaceful as possible. I believe it’s an important responsibility to alleviate suffering and allow our pets to pass when they no longer enjoy a good quality of life. In my experience, most pet owners struggle with knowing when to euthanize their pets and feel enormous guilt over this decision. Indeed, it is a very personal decision for every pet and owner, which is why I feel a sense of fulfillment when I can help people do what is right for their beloved pets. It’s a privilege to ease a pet’s passage when it is time. It’s the final, most loving, unselfish gesture we can show them.
When I’m not working, I indulge my lifelong love of learning. I enjoy cooking, music, and spending time with family and friends. I am a natural caregiver, and I volunteer at a pet loss hotline and serve as the medical advocate for multiple elderly family members.
About Dr. Dave Leatherman
I was born in San Pedro, California, and grew up in nearby Manhattan Beach. The ocean and sunshine have been part of my life since I was a baby, and I love the water. I also love animals, particularly dogs, and seeing them in my younger years always brought a smile to my face, no matter how my day was going.
While attending junior college in my 20s, I excelled in science and math. I realized that, combined with my love of animals, this prepared me perfectly for a veterinary career. I transferred to UC Davis, where I earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry with a minor in animal science.
My passion for animals then took me to Perth, Western Australia, where I earned my veterinary degree from Murdoch University. During my time in vet school, I traveled to India to spay and neuter street dogs. I even adopted one of them and named her Sumitra, which means "good friend" in Hindi. I still love to travel and try to do so as often as I can.
I returned to California after graduation and held associate positions at several hospitals in Southern and Northern California, but I never found my dream job. Then I discovered relief work. I loved the variety of traveling to other hospitals and experiencing new things, including mobile vet care. I saw how helpful in-home care was for elderly clients and anxious animals.
This passion for in-home veterinary care led me to Lap of Love, which focuses on compassionate care surrounding difficult end-of-life decisions. I am humbled each time I am welcomed into another person's home to help their family cope with the aging and eventual loss of their beloved pet. This is the work I was meant to do, and I am grateful to be where I belong.
About Dr. Sara Hall
I grew up in the Fingerlakes region of New York state and always knew my path involved caring for animals. I earned degrees in marine biology and zoology before ultimately obtaining my veterinary degree at Tufts University. My career has taken me all over the country, from New York, to Florida, to Arizona, and finally to California, where I have built a life in Orange County. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to help all types of wildlife and exotic pets, in addition to cats and dogs.
My own beloved dog, Maddie, recently passed away after a long illness. She was a yellow Labrador, and had been with me since she was three days old. I did my best to make her comfortable in her final months, and knew when I needed to alleviate her suffering to help her pass in peace and love. After almost 13 years, she was able to pass in my arms, knowing that I loved her more than anything.
The majority of my work has been in the emergency medicine field. I have met many people on the worst day of their life, when they have brought their pet in with a severe illness or injury. Helping pets pass peacefully is the last gift we can give them, and was always the most rewarding aspect of my work in emergency medicine. Working with Lap of Love, I can give that peace to families and their loved ones in an environment where they feel safe and loved. I especially enjoy being able to pay forward the peace and support I experienced when helping my own sweet Maddie cross over the rainbow bridge.
About Dr. Elke Kuhl
Growing up in a family of medical professionals in Southern California, I gravitated toward the biological sciences and had a deep fondness for my animal companions. Whether I was feeding garter snakes, rescuing baby squirrels, raising chickens, or playing with my pet guinea pigs, cats, boxers, or horses, I spent much of my childhood surrounded by animals. Caring for—and losing—my first horse, Grizzly Bear, helped me realize that veterinary medicine was my purpose in life.
I received my bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and attended the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, which was the newest veterinary college in North America at that time. My four years there brought me several lifelong friends and experiences from the frozen north which I will never forget.
After graduating with my veterinary degree, I was fortunate to work with a veterinarian I had known and loved since I was a child. I was thrilled to become his associate, and I enjoyed working with him and making close connections with my pet patients and their families for 15 years.
I learned a lot about senior caregiving when I put my career on pause to care for my aging parents and their health issues. While being a caregiver is challenging work, it is done with so much love, and I am grateful that my parents and I shared that experience.
As our pets age, we often must navigate similar territory, battling their health conditions, supporting their slowing bodies, and making difficult end-of-life decisions to relieve their suffering.
When the opportunity came to join Lap of Love, I knew that I wanted to use my veterinary skills to support pets and people during a challenging time. It’s never easy saying goodbye to a pet, but I feel honored to be able to provide comfort to others with my experience, understanding, and respect for the circle of life.
About Dr. Melia Pitney
I was born in Colorado before moving to Orange County, California to complete elementary through high school. I've loved animals for as long as I can remember, but that love was also matched with my desire to help people. For a long while, I thought I was meant to become a psychologist. It actually wasn’t until two years into college, when visiting the local zoo in Colorado Springs that it dawned on me that I could be helping both animals and people at the same time. The next day I was in my academic counselor's office changing my academic focus towards veterinary medicine. I still got my degree in psychology, but added on multiple biology/chemistry courses and completed an internship in wildlife rehabilitation.
I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. I then earned my veterinary degree and a master’s degree in public health from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.
I've been lucky enough to build experience in a variety of niches of the veterinary field, from non-profit medicine to private practice. I've worked with dogs, cats, exotics, horses, ruminants, zoo animals, and wildlife. Every aspect of this field has been rewarding but my favorite part has truly been the relationships I have built with pets and their families. It is an honor to advocate for those without voices.
Having grown up with dogs and cats, I've unfortunately experienced loss. Just a few months into vet school, on Christmas Eve, my family dog, Sammy, experienced a sudden splenic tumor rupture. I was grateful to be there with my family and our dog as he gently crossed the rainbow bridge. It was then that I realized how important it was for all family members to get the peaceful passing that they deserve. It's never easy to say goodbye to our beloved family members and it will always feel like it is too soon, but helping pets and families find peace and comfort through end-of-life care and euthanasia is truly an honor and a privilege.
When I'm not working, you can probably find me watching sports, obsessively taking pictures of my own pets, and spending time with my husband, family, and friends.
About Dr. Alex Yankopoulos
I grew up in southern California, in the Los Angeles area. From an early age, I had a love of animals. Growing up, I was surrounded by horses, chickens, pigs, rabbits, dogs, and cats. I also grew up in a medical-oriented family, which led me to merge the two interests and become a veterinarian.
I completed my bachelor of animal science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and then graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with an emphasis in companion animals.
I've always enjoyed general practice and the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with my patients and clients. I've enjoyed a range of opportunities while practicing small and large animal medicine and building and managing a veterinary practice.
As a veterinarian and a pet owner, I’ve always euthanized my pets at home, in their familiar environment, to make their experience as peaceful as possible. I believe it’s an important responsibility to alleviate suffering and allow our pets to pass when they no longer enjoy a good quality of life. In my experience, most pet owners struggle with knowing when to euthanize their pets and feel enormous guilt over this decision. Indeed, it is a very personal decision for every pet and owner, which is why I feel a sense of fulfillment when I can help people do what is right for their beloved pets. It’s a privilege to ease a pet’s passage when it is time. It’s the final, most loving, unselfish gesture we can show them.
When I’m not working, I indulge my lifelong love of learning. I enjoy cooking, music, and spending time with family and friends. I am a natural caregiver, and I volunteer at a pet loss hotline and serve as the medical advocate for multiple elderly family members.
About Dr. Dave Leatherman
I was born in San Pedro, California, and grew up in nearby Manhattan Beach. The ocean and sunshine have been part of my life since I was a baby, and I love the water. I also love animals, particularly dogs, and seeing them in my younger years always brought a smile to my face, no matter how my day was going.
While attending junior college in my 20s, I excelled in science and math. I realized that, combined with my love of animals, this prepared me perfectly for a veterinary career. I transferred to UC Davis, where I earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry with a minor in animal science.
My passion for animals then took me to Perth, Western Australia, where I earned my veterinary degree from Murdoch University. During my time in vet school, I traveled to India to spay and neuter street dogs. I even adopted one of them and named her Sumitra, which means "good friend" in Hindi. I still love to travel and try to do so as often as I can.
I returned to California after graduation and held associate positions at several hospitals in Southern and Northern California, but I never found my dream job. Then I discovered relief work. I loved the variety of traveling to other hospitals and experiencing new things, including mobile vet care. I saw how helpful in-home care was for elderly clients and anxious animals.
This passion for in-home veterinary care led me to Lap of Love, which focuses on compassionate care surrounding difficult end-of-life decisions. I am humbled each time I am welcomed into another person's home to help their family cope with the aging and eventual loss of their beloved pet. This is the work I was meant to do, and I am grateful to be where I belong.