Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I was born in Florissant and was raised in Chesterfield. Missouri has always been my home and I have friends here from every era of my life, including preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college.

I have wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. I loved growing up with dogs and always looked forward to meeting new pets. I started working at a local veterinary practice when I was 15 and have been working or studying in the field ever since. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and my veterinary degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

After vet school, I worked for five years as a general practice veterinarian. I enjoyed the work, but I decided to shift careers because of the toll it took on my mental health. Although I cared deeply about my patients and clients, having to make tough decisions, help navigate financial burdens, and deliver bad news, while never seeming to have enough time to fit in all the patients that needed to be seen, started to wear on me. 

I have seen three of my childhood dogs cross the rainbow bridge. Helping to end patient suffering and be there to support clients through one of the most difficult and heartbreaking times of their lives is rewarding for me. Having been through this experience a few times myself, and performing countless euthanasias in general practice, I feel blessed to be a comfortable and soothing presence during a time of suffering. I appreciate that this job allows me to spend more time with my patients and be emotionally present with families. 

When I am not working, I love reading, hiking, being outside, playing music, scuba diving, yoga, spending time with my pets, and playing board games and video games. I also have four fur babies: Jack (Beagle/Australian Cattle Dog mix), Forrest (Golden Retriever), and two cats, Kiki and Keanu.