In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Aiken-Augusta & Surrounding Areas

I was born in Miami, Florida, and moved to Conyers, Georgia in the suburbs of Atlanta at age 9.  I have always loved animals—I volunteered at Zoo Atlanta during my high school years and have worked at a veterinary clinic since the age of 14—but it wasn’t until my junior year of college that I knew I wanted to become a veterinarian. 

I completed my undergraduate studies at Berry College in Georgia, earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in chemistry. I then earned my doctorate in veterinary medicine from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, surrounded by the beauty of the Cumberland Gap National Park. 

I’ve enjoyed working as a general practice veterinarian, facilitating effective multimodal pain and nutritional management for my patients. I enjoy caring for all animals, but I’m especially fond of felines. One of the most meaningful parts of being a veterinarian is promoting the care and wellbeing of furry family members and fostering the human-animal bond. 

I also enjoy being able to assess a pet’s quality of life to ensure they are living comfortably without undue pain or suffering and counseling families to help them provide the best care for their pet. When the time to cross the rainbow bridge arrives, I feel privileged to be able to help pets cross over with dignity and peace while supporting families through a difficult time. 

When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking, gardening, kayaking, scuba diving, and bike riding. I am an avid reader and also enjoy curling up with my fur babies for a cozy evening of watching movies or Netflix. 

I grew up in upstate New York, but after college I moved to New England, which will always be home to me. I have wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I remember.  We brought home our first puppy when I was 6, and I’ve had pets ever since. I also grew up reading Misty of Chincoteague, My Friend Flicka, and Black Beauty, and I can't imagine life without my dogs, cats, and horses.

I graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, and I am a 2004 graduate of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. I love internal medicine and have always enjoyed solving medical mysteries. I have practiced both general and emergency medicine, and while emergency medicine is exciting, I loved the relationships I developed with my long-term clients and their pets in general practice. Prior to joining Lap of Love, I worked in the veterinary pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry. Ultimately, I missed working with pets and people, and I’m drawn to helping families during what can be a very difficult time. 

As a veterinarian, I’m fortunate to have been able to say goodbye to my own pets at home, and it’s incredibly important to me to offer pets and their guardians the same peace and privacy I experienced.  I have always found being able to provide a soft ending for pets incredibly gratifying.  While saying goodbye is never easy, to be able to offer peace, compassion, and understanding during an otherwise difficult time is a gift.

I have always loved horses and dreamed of having my own. I purchased my first horse about six years ago, and I haven't looked back. In fact, the robust equestrian community is what brought us to Aiken.  I also love cooking, reading, and crossword and jigsaw puzzles.