Meet the veterinarians
About Dr. Donna Matthews Jarrell
I am the daughter of two educators from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and I recently returned to my home state after living in Maryland and Massachusetts for over 30 years. As a child, I grew to love animals with visits to my grandparents' farm in eastern North Carolina and doting on my own family pets, which included beagles, and a Chihuahua mix named Midget. At 8 years old, I took responsibility for nursing Midget back to health after he was severely injured through six months of veterinary care and physical therapy. That experience inspired me to become a veterinarian.
I attended North Carolina State University for my undergraduate and veterinary degrees. After graduating from the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, I pursued a laboratory animal medicine specialty. For most of my career, I focused on minimizing or eliminating the pain, distress, and discomfort of the animals in my care. In 2025, I received the Nathan R. Brewer Lifetime Achievement Award by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine for my contributions to animals and science over the course of my career. Working at the intersection of animal and human health was extremely rewarding.
My expertise in managing quality of life for lab animals now translates to the pet world. Through Lap of Love, I help pet owners appreciate the special responsibility of knowing when to say goodbye to a pet family member. As veterinarians, we pledge to prevent and relieve animal suffering in the most humane ways possible, and it's essential that we provide the resources and support pet owners need during this critical time.
Outside work, I spend time with my pets, Luigi and Remy. I love the outdoors, including taking nature walks, gardening, and caring for my lawn. Nothing is better than a day at the beach, and Martha's Vineyard is my happy place. I practice mindfulness and meditation daily and am currently studying Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), including acupuncture, herbals, and food therapy.
About Dr. Carrie Dobey
When I was young and family members asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered: a “check-up” vet. I wanted to play and look at the animals, but not do anything that might be gross! Well, little did I know how different my path in life would be.
As an Army family, we moved around a lot. My mom was allergic to cats and did not like dogs, so we only had hamsters as kids. You can imagine my surprise when, at the age of 11, I came downstairs on Christmas morning to find a bunny! Progress! Snowflake was my companion until my freshman year in college.
During undergraduate school, I knew I wanted a career in science and one preferably with animals, but I was torn on which way to proceed. I ended up getting a master's degree in wildlife biology and was a biologist in Tennessee and Wyoming for 10 years. As time went on, that lingering feeling of being a “check-up” vet was always in the back of my mind. I decided it was time for a change and applied to veterinary school. I attended the University of Tennessee for veterinary school and what a transformative 4 years it was. After graduation, I was employed by the USDA for a year before transitioning into a role at a spay and neuter clinic. I performed up to 35 surgeries a day for low income citizens of San Antonio, Texas. It was a very rewarding career, but I knew I could make a bigger impact on my community.
Family needs required me to move back east, where I found Lap of Love. I knew immediately that this was such an amazing way to give back to loving families in a time of sorrow. When I think back to when I had to euthanize my favorite cat and dog 3 months apart, shortly after vet school, I wish such a service had been available. It’s an honor to be able to offer a warm, peaceful setting for families to say goodbye to their loved ones, and Lap of Love provides that opportunity.
About Dr. Donna Matthews Jarrell
I am the daughter of two educators from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and I recently returned to my home state after living in Maryland and Massachusetts for over 30 years. As a child, I grew to love animals with visits to my grandparents' farm in eastern North Carolina and doting on my own family pets, which included beagles, and a Chihuahua mix named Midget. At 8 years old, I took responsibility for nursing Midget back to health after he was severely injured through six months of veterinary care and physical therapy. That experience inspired me to become a veterinarian.
I attended North Carolina State University for my undergraduate and veterinary degrees. After graduating from the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, I pursued a laboratory animal medicine specialty. For most of my career, I focused on minimizing or eliminating the pain, distress, and discomfort of the animals in my care. In 2025, I received the Nathan R. Brewer Lifetime Achievement Award by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine for my contributions to animals and science over the course of my career. Working at the intersection of animal and human health was extremely rewarding.
My expertise in managing quality of life for lab animals now translates to the pet world. Through Lap of Love, I help pet owners appreciate the special responsibility of knowing when to say goodbye to a pet family member. As veterinarians, we pledge to prevent and relieve animal suffering in the most humane ways possible, and it's essential that we provide the resources and support pet owners need during this critical time.
Outside work, I spend time with my pets, Luigi and Remy. I love the outdoors, including taking nature walks, gardening, and caring for my lawn. Nothing is better than a day at the beach, and Martha's Vineyard is my happy place. I practice mindfulness and meditation daily and am currently studying Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), including acupuncture, herbals, and food therapy.
About Dr. Carrie Dobey
When I was young and family members asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered: a “check-up” vet. I wanted to play and look at the animals, but not do anything that might be gross! Well, little did I know how different my path in life would be.
As an Army family, we moved around a lot. My mom was allergic to cats and did not like dogs, so we only had hamsters as kids. You can imagine my surprise when, at the age of 11, I came downstairs on Christmas morning to find a bunny! Progress! Snowflake was my companion until my freshman year in college.
During undergraduate school, I knew I wanted a career in science and one preferably with animals, but I was torn on which way to proceed. I ended up getting a master's degree in wildlife biology and was a biologist in Tennessee and Wyoming for 10 years. As time went on, that lingering feeling of being a “check-up” vet was always in the back of my mind. I decided it was time for a change and applied to veterinary school. I attended the University of Tennessee for veterinary school and what a transformative 4 years it was. After graduation, I was employed by the USDA for a year before transitioning into a role at a spay and neuter clinic. I performed up to 35 surgeries a day for low income citizens of San Antonio, Texas. It was a very rewarding career, but I knew I could make a bigger impact on my community.
Family needs required me to move back east, where I found Lap of Love. I knew immediately that this was such an amazing way to give back to loving families in a time of sorrow. When I think back to when I had to euthanize my favorite cat and dog 3 months apart, shortly after vet school, I wish such a service had been available. It’s an honor to be able to offer a warm, peaceful setting for families to say goodbye to their loved ones, and Lap of Love provides that opportunity.
About Dr. Donna Matthews Jarrell
I am the daughter of two educators from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and I recently returned to my home state after living in Maryland and Massachusetts for over 30 years. As a child, I grew to love animals with visits to my grandparents' farm in eastern North Carolina and doting on my own family pets, which included beagles, and a Chihuahua mix named Midget. At 8 years old, I took responsibility for nursing Midget back to health after he was severely injured through six months of veterinary care and physical therapy. That experience inspired me to become a veterinarian.
I attended North Carolina State University for my undergraduate and veterinary degrees. After graduating from the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, I pursued a laboratory animal medicine specialty. For most of my career, I focused on minimizing or eliminating the pain, distress, and discomfort of the animals in my care. In 2025, I received the Nathan R. Brewer Lifetime Achievement Award by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine for my contributions to animals and science over the course of my career. Working at the intersection of animal and human health was extremely rewarding.
My expertise in managing quality of life for lab animals now translates to the pet world. Through Lap of Love, I help pet owners appreciate the special responsibility of knowing when to say goodbye to a pet family member. As veterinarians, we pledge to prevent and relieve animal suffering in the most humane ways possible, and it's essential that we provide the resources and support pet owners need during this critical time.
Outside work, I spend time with my pets, Luigi and Remy. I love the outdoors, including taking nature walks, gardening, and caring for my lawn. Nothing is better than a day at the beach, and Martha's Vineyard is my happy place. I practice mindfulness and meditation daily and am currently studying Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), including acupuncture, herbals, and food therapy.