Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

A true Washingtonian, I was born and raised in Spokane. I grew up surrounded by a wonderful and supportive family full of human physicians, but my parents and siblings knew I would deviate from the rest of the family and follow the path to veterinary medicine long before I did. Of course, between my life-long obsession with animals and science, it was not such a difficult conclusion to reach. 

I first moved to the Seattle area to attend the University of Washington, where I received my bachelor’s degree in physiology before crossing enemy lines to study at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After receiving my veterinary degree, I returned home to the Seattle area and practiced veterinary medicine in the clinical setting for eight years—Washington is far too beautiful to ever leave! 

My attention first turned to end-of-life care while acting as the primary care-taker for my father, who sadly passed of cancer a few years ago. During that experience, I recognized the importance of support from palliative care providers and found myself taking note of all the ways human providers offered care to their patients and the families who loved them. I also found myself noticing ways that care could be improved. As a veterinarian, I have the unique ability to offer this support, take away pain, and provide peace for an animal and their family. I feel so honored to be able to offer this service in a setting where my patients and their loved ones feel most at home and comfortable. 

In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, cooking with my husband, Vrajesh, hiking and backpacking with my eleven-year-old Springer Spaniel, Jasper—who constantly reminds me that old arthritic joints are no reason to miss out on climbing mountains—and generally being bossed around by my fifteen-year-old tuxedo kitty, Luciano, the undisputed ruler of the house.