In-Home Pet Euthanasia in St. Augustine Area

Growing up, I always had a close bond with animals. I began volunteering at my local animal shelter in Orlando and loved working with the dogs and cats. I provided them with as much love and enrichment as possible during the few hours I spent there. This was always the highlight of my week. After high school, I went on to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Florida. During my time there, I had the opportunity to volunteer with a low cost spay/neuter clinic. My experience volunteering truly solidified my passion for veterinary medicine and drove my desire to enter veterinary school. After working as a veterinary technician in private practice for a year, I was accepted to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and completed my doctorate degree.

My strong connection to end of life care developed during veterinary school. While on the first week of clinical rotations, my own cat started exhibiting signs of weakness and, over the course of a day, quickly declined and was transferred to UF. After a wide array of diagnostics and testing, he was diagnosed with cancer (lymphoma). The oncologists predicted that even with chemotherapy, he would have less than a month left with me. I went home with medication to make him comfortable and spent that next day holding him close. Despite supportive care, he got worse, and I had to make the painful decision to let him go. Since that day, I have worked hard to make each of my patients’ passing a peaceful and meaningful one. It is never easy to say goodbye, especially in situations like my own when a pet declines so suddenly. I am thankful that I can guide and support families through this incredibly difficult time as a doctor with Lap of Love. I am truly honored to be there for you. 

When I am not out in the St. Augustine area helping families, I enjoy visiting my family in Clearwater, playing with my mischievous cat, Chowder, and exploring Disney World with my other half, Eric

I was born and raised in Albany, Georgia. My fondest childhood memories involve the many pets- dogs, cats, horses, rodents, and fish- who not only brought joy to my life but also taught me many of life’s most important lessons.  

I attended college at the University of West Georgia and majored in History.  Since then, my life has been a wonderful adventure that has taken me around the world. I’ve served as a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching English in Mozambique. After returning home for a few years, I returned to Mozambique while completing a Master’s degree in Public Health. It was during this experience that I saw the writing on the wall and decided to combine my passion for human connection, education, and animals by pursuing veterinary medicine.

I began my education in veterinary medicine at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, then completed my clinical training at Cornell University. Since graduation, I have slowly drifted south from Alexandria, Virginia to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and now my newest path has led me to Jacksonville, Florida with Lap of Love. 

I know how hard it can be to say goodbye to a beloved pet and am honored to have the privilege of helping families during their time of need. 

I was raised in southeastern Massachusetts. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to help animals. Early on, I felt called to a lifetime of attending to animals’ care and welfare. Over the course of my grade school years, I brought home a menagerie of injured, stray, and orphaned animals in need of care, often to my mother’s hopeless chagrin. I had the good fortune to own horses in my youth, and also later as an adult. 

I obtained my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Tufts University in Grafton, Massachusetts. I practiced for many years, mostly as the sole owner and practitioner of a small animal hospital serving a large rural area in Northern California’s central valley. I also occasionally saw goats, sheep, ostriches, emus, rabbits, birds, reptiles, horses and mules, pocket pets, and a variety of local fauna. Many of my regular clients were farmers. I have countless memories of times when men and women came to me with tears in their eyes, and bade farewell as their beloved companion drew its last breath in the comfort of old and calloused, yet familiar, hands. 

Some years after growing the practice, my husband and I began formulating our exit strategy. After a trip to visit my dad in St. Augustine, Florida, we decided this is where we would retire. We were fortunate to sell my practice and our farm shortly after our youngest went off to college. We packed up our belongings, along with four horses, four dogs, and a cat, and drove to our new farm in beautiful St. Augustine.

My life has been repeatedly graced by the bittersweet paradox of companionship and loss that is unique to pet ownership. As a veterinarian and pet owner, I have a unique understanding of the deep emotional connection people have with their pets and, most importantly, how and when to best grant eternal peace. It is an honor to offer pets and their families the gift of a peaceful euthanasia in the comfort of their own home.