In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Long Island - Suffolk County

I started out as a veterinary technician 20 years ago and knew I would be involved with taking care of animals and their families for the rest of my life. 

I earned my DVM degree from Ross University in 2002 and returned home to Long Island to practice small animal medicine. I returned home with Cricket, a tabby cat, and Marvin, a kititian hound, who I adopted during my second semester on the island of St. Kitts. They were great companions to each other and me during my school career. They adapted well to life in the states and lived long, happy lives and each succumbing to a different illness as they grew old together. Marvin developed congestive heart failure and Cricket developed kidney failure. I learned a great deal caring for them and ensuring they had an excellent quality of life, with medications and diet to maintain their heart and kidney function. It was a difficult decision when the time came but my family and I were there with them at the very end to say good bye. I know Marvin was there to greet Cricket at the Rainbow Bridge and my hope is that they are romping around together just like they used to in our living room.  

Being in private practice, you watch a patient grow up and grow old. We help patients and their families manage their illnesses on a daily basis but at the very end it comes down to an unfamiliar and stressful place. Many of my pet parents have told me they would prefer the home environment, something I was not able to provide at that time. That is why Lap of Love is so special - keeping pets and their families in a comfortable setting and loving environment. I am blessed to be able to help families through this difficult time in their lives.

I have always been fascinated by critters, both big and small. As a longtime equestrian, I understood the strength of the human-animal bond that deepens as you tend and care for an animal that becomes a part of your family and your heart. I incorporated that passion and love into a career when I happily graduated veterinary school from University of Florida in 2006. In the beginning of my veterinary career, I worked as an ambulatory veterinarian for large and small animals in sunny Florida, the state in which I grew up. I expanded my experience by practicing in Kansas City, MO, where I treated a myriad of animals ranging from dogs and cats to sheep and llamas! Throughout my tenure as a veterinarian, my primary goal is to help people understand the needs of their pets, both for wellness and preventative health, and during times of illness and disease.

I currently live on Long Island to pursue a life closer to my loved ones. I enjoy all that Long Island has to offer including spending time outside boating, at the beach, enjoying craft beer, visiting museums and community festivals, and horseback riding. I'm a parent to both two-legged and four-legged babies:  Haden, my teenage son; Jewel, my 10 year-old Jack Russell terrier; and Ozzy, my 8 year-old Abyssinian cat. I'm grateful to have an opportunity to visit families in their homes and help them walk through their options when dealing with end of life decisions.

I grew up in the small town of Southold, New York, on the beautiful North Fork of Long Island. The love I had for my first dog, a yellow lab named KC, first inspired me to become a veterinarian at the age of five.

During my undergraduate studies, while pursuing an animal science degree at Penn State University, I traveled to Australia and volunteered at a wildlife park, then completed research in China and Japan. It was during those four years that I knew I would spend the rest of my life caring for animals. My dream became a reality when I attended the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and earned my doctorate of veterinary  medicine.

After graduation, I moved back home to Long Island to pursue a career in small animal general practice where I gained a deep understanding and appreciation for the human-animal bond. I enjoyed utilizing my skills to treat challenging cases, stabilize walk-in emergencies, and perform surgery, but I found the connections I made with families while helping them say goodbye to their best friend the most rewarding. 

I have personally experienced the loss of a pet. My dachshund, Chester, unexpectedly gained his wings at home while I was about to go into surgery, and unfortunately, I was not there to say goodbye or hold his paw. Lap of Love’s mission deeply resonates with me, because I want to give families peace of mind and connection while saying goodbye to their best friend in the comfort of their own home. I’m grateful for the opportunity to provide a sense of comfort during a difficult time, and it is an honor to be able to provide such an incredible service.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my niece and nephews, traveling the world, and relaxing at the beach with friends and family.