In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Salem & Surrounding Neighborhoods

I was born in New York, and then moved to the large suburban city of Coral Springs in South Florida. Growing up, we always had dogs and cats, and they were part of the family. I was the child who rescued injured baby birds and other animals, and brought them to local veterinary clinics for care. Like many kids, I declared, "I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up!" and I’m thrilled that I was able to follow that career path. 

I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for my undergraduate work , where I studied biological anthropology and zoology. After graduating, I completed veterinary school at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.  

For nearly twenty years, I have worked in small animal practice, happily spending 17 of those years at the same practice. I love the relationships I form with families and their pets, and I have always enjoyed watching my patients grow from puppies to seniors. I can tailor my patients’ care throughout their lives to ensure they are happy and comfortable, and being able to help families navigate their pet’s life journey, from beginning to end, is a wonderful experience. 

I have experienced the extremes of pet loss. I had to euthanize my beloved rescue dog at an emergency hospital in a very chaotic setting, and it was not an experience I would wish on anyone. In contrast, the euthanasia of my special senior German shorthair pointer in a grassy outdoor field was an amazing and peaceful experience. Having lost pets of my own, I know how much a guiding hand can help people through this difficult experience, and I feel fortunate to be able to support families and their pets through my role at Lap of Love. 

In my free time, I enjoy running with my active German shorthair pointer through Forest Park, and when the weather is nice, I enjoy hiking. During the wet winter you can find me playing board games with my family, reading, and snowboarding on Mt. Hood! 

I grew up in Broomfield, Colorado, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. My love for animals was sparked early by my childhood pets—Siberian huskies named Smokey and Dusty, and a tabby cat named Spencer—and by listening as my mom read novels like Old Yeller and Bambi aloud to my brother and I. However, I didn’t think seriously about veterinary medicine until much later. I earned a bachelor’s degree in English and history from Regis University in Denver, followed by a Ph.D in Renaissance literature from the University of Notre Dame. I spent the next few years teaching 16th and 17th century poetry and drama, first at a small liberal arts college in Maryland and then at a large research university in California. 

While at Notre Dame, I volunteered at an animal shelter to escape the stress of dissertation writing, and began to wonder if I’d missed a calling to work with animals. However, it wasn’t until I experienced the loss of my beloved cat, Marlowe, after a year-long battle with cancer, that I decided to give up my academic career to become a veterinarian. The long drives to and from the referral hospital were harder on Marlowe than his treatments, and I promised him (and myself) that when he was ready, I would arrange for a peaceful passing at home so he would never have to ride in the car again. Unfortunately, the time came swiftly and unexpectedly in the middle of the night, with help too far away. I rushed Marlowe to an emergency clinic where he died almost before I could hand him off to the nursing staff. My grief and guilt at having broken my promise gave rise to a determination to honor Marlowe by training to provide pet owners in a similar situation with compassionate support, and dying pets ease from their suffering and a gentle and dignified passing. 

I began working evenings and weekends in a veterinary clinic, first as a kennel attendant and then as an assistant. Eventually I completed my undergraduate veterinary prerequisites and moved back home to Colorado to attend veterinary school at Colorado State University. There I fostered interests in oncology, internal medicine, pain management, and palliative care. I also served as a manager for CSU’s pet hospice program, which dispatched teams of veterinary student volunteers to perform in-home health assessments and offer emotional support for people with terminally ill pets. I was privileged to witness the loving bonds between these pets and their families, which seemed even more intense, complete, and sacred as the end came near. I found that my personal experience with the loss of several pets over the years, and the difficult questions these experiences raised for me before and after, were just as valuable to me as my clinical training in terms of caring for my patients and communicating clearly and empathetically with my clients. 

While at CSU, I met my wife, Ally, whose post-doctoral residency in veterinary clinical pathology at The Ohio State University brought us to the Columbus area. I learned from a former CSU colleague that Lap of Love had openings for veterinarians in Columbus, and I jumped at the chance to work with a wonderful team of professionals who share my passion for gentle, compassionate, in-home care for pets and their families. When not working, Ally and I love spending time with our assorted animal companions. We can be found hiking or camping with our crew of Siberian huskies (Jayne, Sochi, and Maya) and our Boxer mix, Homer, lounging at home with our cat, Lucretia, and a good book, or watching a good or hilariously bad movie, or a soccer, hockey, or football game. 

Pronouns: He / Him

I was born and raised in Minnesota. My family moved from the city to the country when I was very young so we could have pets. We started with dogs, and then added horses, rabbits, and sheep to our little farm. I loved caring for all of them. I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian at a young age, and was inspired by the veterinarians who came out to the farm to help us with various animal health issues. 

We moved to Oregon when I was in high school, after selling off most of the menagerie. Following family tradition, I went to nursing school straight out of high school. I completed nursing school at Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center School of Nursing, and then completed a bachelor’s degree in biology with a language minor at Western Oregon State College, now Western Oregon University. After working for several years, mostly in intensive care and critical care, I decided to pursue my original dream of attending veterinary school. I graduated in 1995 from Oregon State University and Washington State University Colleges of Veterinary Medicine when their programs were combined. My work in the veterinary and nursing fields overlapped for eight years. 

I practiced in a mixed animal practice right out of vet school, where I most enjoyed internal medicine. I went on to work for the State of Oregon and then the federal government, handling animal health and welfare issues. My side work since 2016 has involved working with an animal sanctuary for mostly senior and hospice animals, as well as animals with chronic health and behavior issues. 

I have been surrounded by animals since childhood, and the heartache of losing them has always been difficult. In my experience, having the option of private end-of-life care has been a huge comfort, and I am honored to provide this service to pets and their families. 

I was born and raised in beautiful Miami, Florida. I have always loved science and animals and enjoyed a close relationship with my childhood pets. When it came time to decide on my life’s path, I decided the best use of my skills and affinity for science was to help my furry friends as a veterinarian.

I attended undergraduate school at the University of Chicago and Florida International University. When I decided to go to vet school, I thought attending a school outside the U.S. would be a great experience. So, I applied and was admitted to St. George's University in Grenada, West Indies, and performed my clinical year in Edinburgh, Scotland, to round out my cultural adventures.

I’ve had a varied career leading research efforts in botany, epidemiology, fish population studies, and food safety, and providing management consulting to independent veterinary hospital owners. My longest stint, however, was in small animal practice. I practiced for nearly 15 years at Rock Creek Veterinary Hospital in Portland, Oregon. While there, I developed interests in endocrinology and internal medicine, along with a strong affinity for hospice and end-of-life care. 

My clients often asked how I handled the difficult emotions surrounding end-of-life care. For me, it wasn’t difficult to see that I was helping pets and their families. I felt honored to provide services that took away pain and suffering. I have lost pets myself, and the experience feels like losing a beloved family member. But no two pets or pet families are alike, and each deserves the compassionate care I can provide them through Lap of Love.

When I am not working, I enjoy relaxing with my wife, friends, and pets. I also enjoy reading, working in the yard, practicing martial arts, and completing art projects.

I grew up in Spokane, Washington. I’ve been intrigued by the biology and behavior of pets, wildlife, and domestic farm animals since I was a kid. I was part of a 4-H club and showed my cats at county, state, and interstate fairs from elementary through high school.  I was also given the opportunity to show other animals—from chickens to rabbits, pigs, dogs, cows, sheep, and goats—in Round Robin competitions. This nurtured my desire to dedicate my life to helping animals and supporting the human-animal bond.

I attended the University of Washington, where I majored in zoology and was given the opportunity to spend a summer studying howler monkey behavior in the Costa Rican rainforest. I then attended veterinary school at Washington State University. During vet school, I was part of the pet loss hotline club. This is where I had my first experiences providing families with support during the difficult loss of a beloved pet.

I love animals and enjoy supporting and guiding other like-minded people who enjoy animal companionship. In my career, I have worked in small animal general practice, where I had a special affinity for feline medicine, animal behavior, and surgery. I have more recently worked in the field of small animal genetics, improving the lives of pets and enhancing the human-animal bond.

I have lost several pets over the years. When my childhood cat passed, I was advised not to be present, and I regretted not saying a proper goodbye that honored our special relationship. When the time came for my vet school dog and cat to be euthanized, I was able to say goodbye at home, with my husband and kids. We had the time we needed to make it a comforting experience that honored our bond and cherished memories. After experiencing this difference myself, I feel honored to be able to provide the same comfort and peace of mind for other families..

When I am not working, I enjoy gardening, crafting, and photography. My biggest passion is traveling to see different places and experience different cultures and foods. I especially love making friends with and photographing street cats during my world travels!