I have spent my nearly 30-year career looking at the veterinary experience from the animal’s perspective. My education at the University of Pennsylvania taught me everything there was to learn from books, but my experience in practice has taught me that appreciating our pets' species-specific instincts and ways of communicating has helped me provide a better experience for my patients and the people who love them.

In the moments surrounding the passing of a beloved pet, this perspective helps me to seek the calmest, most relaxing, and connected experience for both the pet and their family. Whenever possible, this is best achieved at home, where the pet and their family are most comfortable. Additionally, respectfully caring for the pet after euthanasia is extremely important. I am honored to be working with Lap of Love, as the organization shares these beliefs and provides me with the resources to best serve them.

Before working with Lap of Love, I practiced in equine, small-animal, and feline-only clinics. I then developed and brought to market the only feeding system for cats that meets both their behavioral and physical needs: Doc and Phoebe’s Hunting Feeder. This award-winning feeding system has been recommended by The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA), Cat Friendly Practice, and International Cat Care as the ideal way to feed cats. I have lectured around the world; appeared on many television programs, podcasts, and radio shows; and written for PetMD, Fear Free, Modern Cat, Cat Talk, Chewy, and other veterinary organizations.

In my free time, I enjoy lounging with Plankton, the junkyard dog, Bean, the bottle baby rescue kitty, and Monkey, the Maine coon kitten. I also look forward to cat-sitting my grandcat Onion, a glorious and dramatic Ragdoll. When I am out from under a cat, I can be found competing in the magnificent and challenging sport of eventing with my equine partner, Union Jack.

Local and emergency resources