In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Annapolis-Baltimore Area

I grew up in the 70’s in Chevy Chase, MD which is a suburb of Washington, DC. It was a lovely area and time that allowed me to have pets throughout my life. I wanted to be a veterinarian from an early age as evidenced by stories that I wrote in elementary school – one wherein I had to patch up one of Santa’s reindeer one Christmas Eve. 

Luckily, I was able to fulfill my dream and graduate from the Veterinary school at VA Tech - the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Over the past 20+ years, I have exclusively practiced emergency medicine enjoying the spontaneity and variety of cases that presented themselves.   

A significant amount of cases required counseling owners about when it would be in their pet’s best interest to consider euthanasia which is the ultimate responsibility for an owner to handle. Having been in their position, with my first pup as an adult, I know it is the hardest decision to make and one that is almost always second guessed. Helping owners make the decision and to confirm that they are doing the best thing for the loved one is a rewarding experience. 

When I am not working, I relax with my sweet pup, Cricket, who is a Schnorkie.  We watch movies, build LEGOs, play Sudoku, and cross stitch. My little sister and her family live nearby giving me the chance to watch her kids grow up.

Due to being in the Marine Corps, I didn’t have the undergraduate college experience that most people have. Instead, I gained my credits as a commuter to different schools, landing in Maryland for some time. During this time, I gained experience in the field of veterinary medicine by working as a kennel assistant at a boarding facility and eventually becoming a veterinary assistant; these roles reignited my childhood dream and ultimately sparked my interest of applying to vet school. Once obtaining the appropriate undergraduate credits, I journeyed down to the beautiful island of Saint Kitts to complete my education in veterinary medicine at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. I then finished my clinical year at the Ohio State University. I enjoyed the Midwest so much, that I decided to stay after graduation! 

I remained in Ohio for an extra year, working in general practice, then decided to head back to Maryland. I still had friends there and was so excited to return! Back in Maryland, I continued in general practice at the same hospital where I first learned to become a veterinary assistant. This allowed me to see patients now as a doctor whom I had initially helped as an assistant. Helping my patients brought me much joy, especially seeing them grow from a puppy or kitten, to a happy adult dog or cat. As they grew older, my goal was to assure their quality of life sustained. The more patients I helped through the end stages of life, the more I gravitated from general practice toward end-of-life care. Whether providing families with the tools they need to improve their pet’s quality of life or supporting them when it was time to say goodbye... I’ve always viewed it as an honor to help!

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my own furry family, going to trails with my Labrador Retriever mix, Blair, who has been by my side throughout my veterinary career, and spending time at home with my 2 cats, Ruby and Nova, who are such sweethearts, yet keep me on my toes! I also enjoy playing boardgames, video games, and watching movies with my friends!

I grew up in Queens, NY, within walking distance of the World’s Fair Park, Shea Stadium, and Arthur Ashe Stadium, as well as just about anywhere else we needed to go, including school, church, the grocery store, and several parks. My parents were both immigrants and our neighborhood was very diverse, with neighbors from India, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and China. When we wanted to visit " the city" (i.e., Manhattan), we would walk to the number 7 subway train and ride it in. 

My love for animals, especially cats and dogs, drew me to the veterinary profession. One of my aunts gave me a set of James Herriot books, and I read them multiple times. I was the youngest kid on my block, and while the older kids were at school, I would wander up and down our back alley and make friends with the pets in my neighbors' yards. When the time came to think about a career, I knew I wanted to work with animals and help people, and veterinary medicine seemed a good way to fulfill both desires. 

I went to college in New York City, and then moved to Ames, Iowa for my veterinary education. Moving to such a rural part of the country was quite a culture shock! I received my driver's license in college, but I really learned to drive in Iowa. Iowa winters are long and brutal, with the first snow storm typically at Halloween, and the last one around Easter. 

I have worked in an emergency hospital, a general practice, and a shelter. Each setting had their own unique challenges, but all were fulfilling in their own way. I most enjoy working with two extremes: puppies and kittens, and geriatric pets. It is fun to educate new owners about preventative healthcare and basic behaviors, and start pets and their owners down a successful path together. However, I also have a soft spot in my heart for geriatric pets. 

Many years ago, I experienced the loss of my father from advanced lung cancer. He was in constant pain and laboring to breathe during the last week of his life. He mercifully passed away on the day he was to be transferred to hospice care. This experience influenced my perception of euthanasia the most. I struggled with the decision about when to euthanize each of my three  cats when the time came, and I empathize with pet owners who also find that decision challenging. However, watching my dad suffer, especially as his cancer progressed, made me wish that euthanasia was an option for humans. I think that when a patient with an advanced disease loses their quality of life, euthanasia is a merciful gift, and can bring peace to the patient and their family. 

Outside of veterinary medicine, I love to travel and learn about different cultures and history. I enjoy hiking, and especially visiting the national park with my little dog, Fozzie. One of my life goals is to visit—and hike in—all 50 states; I’m over halfway there! I also love to read, and watch movies and musicals. Before the pandemic I started learning how to swing dance, particularly the" lindy hop"—I love the music!