In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Vancouver & Surrounding Areas

I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, also known as the City of Fountains since it’s said to have more fountains than Rome! My childhood love of animals, along with an affinity for math and science, led me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

I attended the University of Missouri Columbia—Go Tigers!—where I completed my undergraduate studies and veterinary school. After receiving my veterinary degree, I practiced emergency medicine for twelve years before transitioning to general practice, and then becoming the practice’s medical director. I love being a veterinarian because I get to help animals and people—caring is one of my superpowers! I enjoy forming relationships with families while practicing emergency medicine. 

I have lost many pets over the years, and my last three pets were able to pass at home. The goodbye process is much more personal, private, calm, and peaceful when done at home, especially for senior and geriatric pets. I really enjoy providing quality end-of-life care because it is the most important time of that pet's life. Being there for a grieving family gives me a sense of making a difference in this world, and reminds me that what I do matters. Grief is a common language that allows us to connect deeply with others.  

I currently live in Vancouver, Washington with my husband, two children, our twin kitties, Kiera and Watney, and our feisty chinchilla, Chewbacca Flash. I have many interests outside of work and acquire new ones almost weekly. I enjoy camping in our pop-up trailer, traveling, vegetable gardening, reading, and playing video games—no thanks to my kids for enabling this addiction. More recent pursuits include astronomy, playing the ukulele, birdwatching, photography, and volunteering at the local science museum.

Growing up, my family moved almost every two for my father’s job. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but we made our way down the East Coast and through the Midwest, so we tried to make each location our "hometown." After veterinary school, I moved to Vancouver, Washington to experience a part of the country I hadn't lived in yet. 

I grew up in an animal-centered household with a mom who loved all creatures big and small. She definitely had an influence on my career path, although I have wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. I earned my undergraduate degree in biology from a smaller University of Tennessee campus in Chattanooga. I then earned a dual veterinary medicine degree and a master’s of public health degree at University of Tennessee’s main campus in Knoxville. 

I enjoy practicing all types of medicine. Most of my experience has been in emergency medicine with small animals and exotics, but I love learning about all branches of the veterinary field. The aspect of being a veterinarian I love most is that I have the option to work in different fields and with different species! 

Growing up, our dog Rocky was extremely nervous and aggressive at the vet’s office. When it came time to say goodbye, having the option for at-home euthanasia shaped the entire memory of his passing. Without it, our family would have remembered that stress above all else and Rocky would have left this world being scared. 

Helping families say goodbye to a loved one is the most special part of being a veterinarian. It is a privilege to be part of that memory and I want to ensure pets and their families can focus on their last moments together rather than the stress that can come along with visiting a clinic.

Outside of work I enjoy hiking (especially in the snow), traveling, reading, and eating ice cream! Doing any of these activities with my boyfriend, Alex, and our fur-babies—our dog, Chance, and our cats, Mowgli and Bernard—is an added bonus.