Northern Virginia & Washington DC

Growing up with a constant influx of rescue animals into our home, I knew as a young child that I wanted to be a Veterinarian. I spent as much time as possible helping my mom with all sorts of animal activities; from working with retired Greyhound racers and the Weimaraner rescue to helping with the occasional stray. I even assisted with a Beagle that gave birth during the middle of Thanksgiving dinner. I remember always wanting to be around animals even during their final moments before passing away. We lost our family greyhound Bogie to bone cancer when I was about fifteen years old and I vividly remember sitting on the floor of the veterinarian’s office holding him in my arms as he slowly passed away. I feel that every family should have the opportunity to be with their pet, providing comfort and support during their final stages of life.

With a budding interest and determination in helping animals, I decided to attend the Veterinary College at the University of Florida. I simultaneously worked as a veterinary technician which allowed me to learn many of the technical skills necessary for a career as a Veterinarian. The hospital I worked for performed many house calls, mainly for in-home euthanasias, which provided me with an introduction to an important aspect of the Veterinary field which most have not been able to experience. Preparing the doctor’s bag for the euthanasia procedure was surreal, but I fully understood the reality and seriousness of the circumstances the minute I entered the family’s home.

I assisted with many euthanasias in various locations, from the family’s special garden or a soft blanket on the floor of the living room to a pet’s favorite spot in the backyard. The one thought that is synonymous with each location is the how in-home euthanasia can help bring a little peace to a family during a very stressful time. Saying goodbye to a beloved pet can be one of the most difficult things in life. My hope is that I may be able to make this transition a little easier by allowing the family members to say farewell in the peace and comfort of their own home.

This Lap of Love location is independently owned and operated by Dr. Christine Shibly.

I grew up in Los Angeles, California and was an animal lover right from the start. My family always had cats, sometimes lots of them. Cats were my first love, but then we got a little terrier mix dog named Casey and I adored him. My parents eventually let me take horseback riding lessons and my passion for horses just blossomed. My favorite horses at the time were Medicine Man and Gloria Kay. I remember my cousins saying that I would become a veterinarian one day due to my love of all animals; they were right!

I went to Cal Poly, Pomona, as an undergraduate, and then to the University of California at Davis for veterinary school. Prior to veterinary school, I worked as an assistant both in an emergency clinic and also in general practice. I rode around with an equine veterinarian, and even went to Wisconsin and went on calls with a dairy veterinarian. Upon graduation from veterinary school I worked in several practices in the greater Los Angeles area. My practices included daytime general practice, feline only practice and a busy 24-hour animal hospital. I eventually started my own house call practice, mainly caring for cats and I found that I really enjoyed getting to know people and their pets in the comfort of their own homes.

In 2015 I moved to Loudoun County, Virginia. My husband and I drove cross-country with two cars, two boys, two cats, and a dog! My horse followed 9 months later.

When I found Lap of Love, I knew it would be a great fit for me. I know how much easier it is for the pets and for their people to be in the familiar surroundings of their own home and I am honored to provide this loving care to pets and families.

For as long as I can remember, animals have always been one of my most favorite things in life, and they still are to this day. After growing up in South Florida and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, I spent my 20’s going to college, working, and moving around the country until finally settling in Northern Virginia. Along the way, I have enjoyed the company of a wide variety of pets and have grown to greatly appreciate the strength and depth of the human-animal bond.

Following graduation from the Michigan State University - College of Veterinary Medicine, I enjoyed working in a private animal hospital in Northern Virginia, where, in addition to the rewarding practice of general medicine, I found it very fulfilling to help families navigate their way through the difficult time faced when a furry loved one is nearing the end of life. Having been there myself, I know it can be a huge struggle to know when and how to say goodbye. I was first drawn to Lap of Love because it seemed a great idea to put more emphasis on hospice and end of life care for pets, a specialty that had not existed in veterinary medicine previously. The extremely high-quality care and devotion that exists at Lap of Love is what led me to join their team. It is an honor to help families through these difficult times, and to help a beloved pet transition with peacefulness, caring and respect.

When enjoying free time, I can usually be found relaxing with my husband and two teenagers, doing needlework, reading, dining out, or caring for my menagerie, which currently consists of 4 dogs (2 Collies, a Cavalier, and a Rat-Chi), 4 angora rabbits, 1 mini-lop rabbit, and a feisty parrot.