Meet the veterinarians
About Dr. Jenny Despo
I grew up in a small town in north New Jersey, a short drive from several interesting destinations that defined my youth, including New York City, the Pocono Mountains, and the Jersey Shore. My story is similar to that of many other veterinarians, as I knew I wanted to become a vet from a young age. After my acceptance to veterinary school, my sister surprised me with a cake decorated with my 2nd-grade school picture and what I wanted to be when I grew up: a veterinarian.
I completed veterinary school at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and have been in the hospice field since graduating. I had incredible mentors who inspired me and taught me the myriad ways we can help families through their most difficult times, and how to honor pets who have passed. I also draw inspiration from my mother, a human hospice nurse who showed me what it means to deliver compassionate end-of-life care.
My first family dog passed away unexpectedly, and I never got to say goodbye. I didn't recognize it at the time, but this experience affected how I grieved his loss. Through my work with Lap of Love, I hope to support families saying their final goodbyes in some small way, whatever their grieving process might look like.
I am continually amazed by the love surrounding pets when I walk into a family's home. It emanates from everyone in the room, and I can feel the deep and meaningful bonds they’ve formed. Helping pets pass peacefully as they are surrounded, comforted, and held close by family and friends in their own homes is truly an honor for which I am grateful. Euthanasia is the greatest gift that veterinary medicine has to offer to our beloved pets.
Outside of work, I have too many hobbies to count! I love reading, hiking, gaming, cooking, baking, birding, gardening, and crafting—including crocheting, knitting, sewing, painting, embroidery, beadwork, whittling, sculpting, and book binding. I love learning new skills and have recently learned how to forage and identify plants.
About Dr. Kim Slade
In 1988, I graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine with my 5-year-old daughter on my hip. My husband, mother, and aunt were in the audience. It was one of the happiest days of my life as I looked forward to treating and curing four-legged friends.
Thirty years have since flown by. We were blessed to add a son to our family. Our daughter even became a veterinarian herself. My career has been a mix of working for a local practice to ten years’ worth of house call in between. Dogs, cats, pocket pets, and even a horse have joined us and ‘left’ us throughout the years. Life has been a mix of people and animals moving into and out of our home. The human-human, human-animal bonds have been written on my heart. As the years' pass, I find myself contemplating questions such as length of time and quality of life for each living being. These have drawn me more and more to the needs of my senior patients. Their physical and emotional comfort, as well as that of their human families, has become ever more important to me. How we each decide when the best time is to let go, is NEVER the same. Each decision is unique. I want to be able to help families on their journey. Treating and curing has naturally progressed to bringing comfort and peace.
I take these thoughts with me now everywhere: home from the office, hiking on weekends, bicycling our local trails, book club and yoga (in my basement where occasionally my old terrier girl will join us ladies for a few minutes), to dinners in friends’ homes or at our local dog friendly restaurants’. My animal “family” has enriched my life and I’ll be at your side to help with your family when called upon.
Coming ‘home’ to Lap of Love is like coming full circle for me: beginnings and endings all in my heart.
About Dr. Victoria Dodson
I grew up in the town of Kinnelon, nestled in the wooded suburbs of Northern New Jersey, where black bears, deer, and other wildlife were frequent backyard visitors. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t dream of becoming a veterinarian, and my childhood bedroom was often referred to as the local “petting zoo,” since multiple pets could be found there at any given time.
I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Calvin University (formerly Calvin College) in Grand Rapids, Michigan before attending Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During veterinary school, I volunteered for a pet loss support hotline and spent nights talking to people who had lost their beloved animals. This experience filled me with compassion and it was an honor to provide support for those we were grieving.
As a veterinarian, I enjoy being able to problem solve and help patients and their owners grow stronger in their bond. I have a passion for preventive medicine and compassionate end-of-life care. I’ve lost many pets over the years, including my special childhood Boxer, Domino, who was a big part of my “why” for becoming a veterinarian. Deciding to let him go was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do and the experience helped me understand how important end-of-life care is for pets and their families. I love being able to provide a peaceful passing for pets and support for families as they say goodbye to a cherished family member.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my two kids and husband, our dog Sophie, our cat Minnie, and our two Ball pythons, Bocce and Pickle. My family and I also enjoy traveling to the Adirondacks, skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, gardening, and crocheting. I've always been interested in the husbandry requirements of various species and I love setting up and maintaining enclosures for the species I've kept in my care over the years. I grew up playing tennis, and it's my sport of choice when I'm able to play!
About Dr. Jenny Despo
I grew up in a small town in north New Jersey, a short drive from several interesting destinations that defined my youth, including New York City, the Pocono Mountains, and the Jersey Shore. My story is similar to that of many other veterinarians, as I knew I wanted to become a vet from a young age. After my acceptance to veterinary school, my sister surprised me with a cake decorated with my 2nd-grade school picture and what I wanted to be when I grew up: a veterinarian.
I completed veterinary school at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and have been in the hospice field since graduating. I had incredible mentors who inspired me and taught me the myriad ways we can help families through their most difficult times, and how to honor pets who have passed. I also draw inspiration from my mother, a human hospice nurse who showed me what it means to deliver compassionate end-of-life care.
My first family dog passed away unexpectedly, and I never got to say goodbye. I didn't recognize it at the time, but this experience affected how I grieved his loss. Through my work with Lap of Love, I hope to support families saying their final goodbyes in some small way, whatever their grieving process might look like.
I am continually amazed by the love surrounding pets when I walk into a family's home. It emanates from everyone in the room, and I can feel the deep and meaningful bonds they’ve formed. Helping pets pass peacefully as they are surrounded, comforted, and held close by family and friends in their own homes is truly an honor for which I am grateful. Euthanasia is the greatest gift that veterinary medicine has to offer to our beloved pets.
Outside of work, I have too many hobbies to count! I love reading, hiking, gaming, cooking, baking, birding, gardening, and crafting—including crocheting, knitting, sewing, painting, embroidery, beadwork, whittling, sculpting, and book binding. I love learning new skills and have recently learned how to forage and identify plants.
About Dr. Kim Slade
In 1988, I graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine with my 5-year-old daughter on my hip. My husband, mother, and aunt were in the audience. It was one of the happiest days of my life as I looked forward to treating and curing four-legged friends.
Thirty years have since flown by. We were blessed to add a son to our family. Our daughter even became a veterinarian herself. My career has been a mix of working for a local practice to ten years’ worth of house call in between. Dogs, cats, pocket pets, and even a horse have joined us and ‘left’ us throughout the years. Life has been a mix of people and animals moving into and out of our home. The human-human, human-animal bonds have been written on my heart. As the years' pass, I find myself contemplating questions such as length of time and quality of life for each living being. These have drawn me more and more to the needs of my senior patients. Their physical and emotional comfort, as well as that of their human families, has become ever more important to me. How we each decide when the best time is to let go, is NEVER the same. Each decision is unique. I want to be able to help families on their journey. Treating and curing has naturally progressed to bringing comfort and peace.
I take these thoughts with me now everywhere: home from the office, hiking on weekends, bicycling our local trails, book club and yoga (in my basement where occasionally my old terrier girl will join us ladies for a few minutes), to dinners in friends’ homes or at our local dog friendly restaurants’. My animal “family” has enriched my life and I’ll be at your side to help with your family when called upon.
Coming ‘home’ to Lap of Love is like coming full circle for me: beginnings and endings all in my heart.
About Dr. Victoria Dodson
I grew up in the town of Kinnelon, nestled in the wooded suburbs of Northern New Jersey, where black bears, deer, and other wildlife were frequent backyard visitors. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t dream of becoming a veterinarian, and my childhood bedroom was often referred to as the local “petting zoo,” since multiple pets could be found there at any given time.
I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Calvin University (formerly Calvin College) in Grand Rapids, Michigan before attending Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During veterinary school, I volunteered for a pet loss support hotline and spent nights talking to people who had lost their beloved animals. This experience filled me with compassion and it was an honor to provide support for those we were grieving.
As a veterinarian, I enjoy being able to problem solve and help patients and their owners grow stronger in their bond. I have a passion for preventive medicine and compassionate end-of-life care. I’ve lost many pets over the years, including my special childhood Boxer, Domino, who was a big part of my “why” for becoming a veterinarian. Deciding to let him go was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do and the experience helped me understand how important end-of-life care is for pets and their families. I love being able to provide a peaceful passing for pets and support for families as they say goodbye to a cherished family member.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my two kids and husband, our dog Sophie, our cat Minnie, and our two Ball pythons, Bocce and Pickle. My family and I also enjoy traveling to the Adirondacks, skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, gardening, and crocheting. I've always been interested in the husbandry requirements of various species and I love setting up and maintaining enclosures for the species I've kept in my care over the years. I grew up playing tennis, and it's my sport of choice when I'm able to play!
About Dr. Jenny Despo
I grew up in a small town in north New Jersey, a short drive from several interesting destinations that defined my youth, including New York City, the Pocono Mountains, and the Jersey Shore. My story is similar to that of many other veterinarians, as I knew I wanted to become a vet from a young age. After my acceptance to veterinary school, my sister surprised me with a cake decorated with my 2nd-grade school picture and what I wanted to be when I grew up: a veterinarian.
I completed veterinary school at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and have been in the hospice field since graduating. I had incredible mentors who inspired me and taught me the myriad ways we can help families through their most difficult times, and how to honor pets who have passed. I also draw inspiration from my mother, a human hospice nurse who showed me what it means to deliver compassionate end-of-life care.
My first family dog passed away unexpectedly, and I never got to say goodbye. I didn't recognize it at the time, but this experience affected how I grieved his loss. Through my work with Lap of Love, I hope to support families saying their final goodbyes in some small way, whatever their grieving process might look like.
I am continually amazed by the love surrounding pets when I walk into a family's home. It emanates from everyone in the room, and I can feel the deep and meaningful bonds they’ve formed. Helping pets pass peacefully as they are surrounded, comforted, and held close by family and friends in their own homes is truly an honor for which I am grateful. Euthanasia is the greatest gift that veterinary medicine has to offer to our beloved pets.
Outside of work, I have too many hobbies to count! I love reading, hiking, gaming, cooking, baking, birding, gardening, and crafting—including crocheting, knitting, sewing, painting, embroidery, beadwork, whittling, sculpting, and book binding. I love learning new skills and have recently learned how to forage and identify plants.