Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

When I was young and family members asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered: a “check-up” vet. I wanted to play and look at the animals, but not do anything that might be gross! Well, little did I know how different my path in life would be.

As an Army family, we moved around a lot. My mom was allergic to cats and did not like dogs, so we only had hamsters as kids. You can imagine my surprise when, at the age of 11, I came downstairs on Christmas morning to find a bunny! Progress! Snowflake was my companion until my freshman year in college.

During undergraduate school, I knew I wanted a career in science and one preferably with animals, but I was torn on which way to proceed. I ended up getting a master's degree in wildlife biology and was a biologist in Tennessee and Wyoming for 10 years. As time went on, that lingering feeling of being a “check-up” vet was always in the back of my mind. I decided it was time for a change and applied to veterinary school. I attended the University of Tennessee for veterinary school and what a transformative 4 years it was. After graduation, I was employed by the USDA for a year before transitioning into a role at a spay and neuter clinic. I performed up to 35 surgeries a day for low income citizens of San Antonio, Texas. It was a very rewarding career, but I knew I could make a bigger impact on my community.

Family needs required me to move back east, where I found Lap of Love. I knew immediately that this was such an amazing way to give back to loving families in a time of sorrow. When I think back to when I had to euthanize my favorite cat and dog 3 months apart, shortly after vet school, I wish such a service had been available. It’s an honor to be able to offer a warm, peaceful setting for families to say goodbye to their loved ones, and Lap of Love provides that opportunity.