In-Home Pet Euthanasia in South Shore

I grew up in rural Virginia, surrounded by a menagerie of animals. Even as a child, I knew veterinary medicine was my calling. I enjoy all aspects of the profession and have worked in various settings, including shelter medicine, spay and neuter clinics, urgent care and emergency clinics, full-service hospitals, and dental practices. 

I’ve worked in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, but the majority of my 25-year career was spent in Maryland. A few years ago, I stepped away from practice to move home and care for my elderly parents. My mother entered home hospice in 2022, and although I would have loved her to stay healthy forever, it was a blessing to have her at home. She was able to attend my wedding and got to meet and hold my baby daughter. 

In late 2024, my mother, her cat, and my father's dog all passed away in quick succession. The difficulty of this time reminded me of a truth I had already learned in my work: Loss is inevitable, but the ability to provide a good goodbye is truly a gift. 

Reflecting on these experiences, I decided to do something meaningful to honor my mother's memory. I know my mother would want me to try to provide comfort to other families experiencing similarly difficult times. 

Lap of Love offers a vital service for pet owners and families facing the loss of a beloved pet, and I am grateful to be part of their team. A good goodbye is a gift, and I hope to provide that for all pets and pet families in a compassionate, comfortable, and supportive environment.

I was born and raised in Wisconsin before moving to South Carolina for high school and college. I have wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. I have always been drawn to animals and helping those in need. As a child, I collected injured wildlife and nursed them back to health.

I obtained my bachelor's degree in animal and veterinary sciences from Clemson University before attending Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts, where I earned my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. For the past 13 years, I have practiced general medicine in the South Shore area of Massachusetts, caring for dogs, cats, and other small companion mammals. I enjoy continuing to learn and practice a wide range of medicine.

After having my childhood dog euthanized in a cold, clinical setting, I vowed to make the end-of-life experience for my own patients as comfortable and warm as possible. I’ve since euthanized four of my own pets, which has only strengthened that commitment and molded me further toward this specialized line of work within veterinary medicine. For each of them, I made sure their last day was beautiful and their final moments were peaceful, surrounded by love outside of the traditional clinical setting. 

Being able to provide a peaceful passing to pets in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by their loved ones, is a gift I am honored to share. I would want myself and my own loved ones to pass peacefully, surrounded by comfort and love, and that inspires me to share this same gift with other families and their pets when they are in need of these services.

Outside of working in veterinary medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Neil, and our pets: two dogs, Ramona and Gimli; three cats, Richard, Herman, and Asya; and a bearded dragon named Darrell. My hobbies include traveling, hiking, reading, listening to music, building with LEGOs, doing puzzles, and playing video games.