Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I’m one of those vets that grew up knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life; I never had any hesitation on career day! I ‘rescued’ box turtles and lizards in our backyard for a few hours before having to set them free. I longed for a puppy or a pony every birthday and Christmas. My family moved from Florida to Texas to Georgia when I was young, making owning pets difficult, but I worked at horse farms, animal clinics, and Zoo Atlanta to make up for what I didn’t have at home.

I followed my dreams and obtained a degree in Animal Science at Berry College in Georgia and then went on to the University of Georgia for Veterinary School. My initial focus was in equine medicine, but I was also lucky to have a broad-based education in all species. Toward the end of vet school, I landed an internship in California and was thrilled to have the opportunity to explore the West while working out there for 11 years in equine ambulatory and small animal practices. In my free time I have always enjoyed traveling, biking, photography and running.

While in California I adopted my ‘heart dog’, Kona, a Catahoula Leopard Dog, who is still my grey muzzle sweetheart today. I also became a military spouse and we ended up landing in Pennsylvania with two more adopted mutts, Maui and Citra. Maui is a very cuddly, brindle Mountain Cur mix who is currently battling Lymphoma. Citra is a shepherd mix and a hindleg-amputee, but also a very loud home security system! These dogs have taught me a lot about medicine, canine fortitude and also about the depth of the human animal bond.

Although I have dogs at home, my feline patients at work are the highlight of my day! I have special interests in feline medicine, dermatology, oncology and, of course, palliative care. I have always felt a special dedication to understanding my patients’ comfort and taking the time to treat them as if they were my own pets. It is an honor and a privilege to provide families a peaceful time to say goodbye in the comfort of their own surroundings.