Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I was born in Covington, Louisiana, but spent most of my life in Knoxville, Tennessee. I have loved animals and wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. This passion was solidified when I first saw the movie, “The Lion King,” at 5 years old. Since then I have worked to become an advocate for all animals, including pets and wildlife. I completed my undergraduate studies at Lees McRae College, a small school in the beautiful mountains of Banner Elk, North Carolina. After graduation, I moved back to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Before joining Lap of Love, I worked as the staff veterinarian for an exotic cat sanctuary, providing care to 75 wild cats, including lions, tigers, leopards, and cougars, as well as many pet cats and dogs. It was there that I became passionate about all aspects of geriatric medicine—not only the diagnosis and management of age related conditions, but also the importance of education and communication with the animals’ caretakers. Many of our resident cats were older, and therefore, much of my practice focused on this aspect of care, including formulating and implementing quality-of-life centered treatment plans, and leading discussions on end-of-life decisions. Aside from being the resident cats’ veterinarian, I also formed strong relationships with them. This position enabled me to experience the clinical and emotional challenges associated with the animals’ declining quality of life, their hospice care, and ultimately, humane euthanasia. I believe these experiences provided me with invaluable and unique insights for understanding the many facets of end-of-life care, for both the patients and their loved ones. 

The best part about being a veterinarian is that I not only have the knowledge, means, and ability to provide care and comfort to animals, but to also provide compassion and understanding to the people who love them. The human-animal bond is such a deep, strong, and important connection, and I am honored and inspired everyday to be given the opportunity to play an important role in that relationship. 

I spend most of my personal time hanging out with my Siberian husky, Paul. Some of my hobbies include photography, drawing, and gardening, and I have recently become more interested in bird watching and photographing all the amazing species that visit my bird feeders. I enjoy being outdoors in general, whether camping, kayaking, or fishing—or all of the above!