Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

As a kid growing up in rural Carroll County, Maryland, I loved animals, horses, science, and math. I decided I wanted to be a vet when I was 11 years old and rescued an injured cat. She became an important part of our family, and I became hooked on veterinary medicine. As a teen, I did everything I could to be around animals, including working jobs in a stable, kennel, and small animal hospital.

I earned a biology degree from Duke University, where I worked with lemurs at the Duke Primate Center. The experience provided a unique perspective on medicine because we had to consider disruptions in the animals’ social status before deciding how to treat their illness or injury. After my undergraduate studies, I attended veterinary school at Purdue University and focused on equine, small animal, and exotic animal medicine. 

I have practiced small animal and exotic animal medicine for more than 25 years. Being a veterinarian is a dream come true because I love helping animals and the people who love them. I can't imagine doing anything else!

My experiences with pet loss—both as a pet owner and a vet—shaped my understanding of end-of-life care. I recently lost my 19-year-old cat, the four-legged love of my life. I also helped a friend say goodbye to her elderly cat on the same day as her mother’s birthday, only a week after her mother had passed away. It was an extraordinarily difficult time for my friend, but she was grateful for the peaceful nature of her cat’s passing.

Through Lap of Love, I provide services that give pets the gift of passing peacefully and comfortably in their homes. Helping our furry friends leave this world with dignity is a vital part of our job as veterinarians, and I feel great satisfaction in dedicating my life to helping others in this way.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, baking, scrapbooking, reading, practicing Tai Chi with my husband, and cheering for my kids at their sporting events.