Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia

I was born and raised in East Boston, and have spent most of my life in the Boston area. Like most young girls, I was obsessed with horses, and we had all sorts of pets who also fueled my love affair with animals. However, I did not think about becoming a veterinarian until I reached my mid-twenties. My first degree was in psychology, so I got a second degree in veterinary technology, both to ensure I enjoyed working in the field, and to get the prerequisite courses for veterinary school at Mississippi State University.

Since graduation, I’ve spent most of my time working in emergency and critical care medicine at a large volume specialty hospital, and have also worked with cardiologists and internal medicine specialists. Rehabilitation and pain management have become my professional focus, and I’m excited to learn more in these areas to better help my patients.

My goal as a Lap of Love veterinarian is to use my experience and skills to help families make difficult decisions about their pet’s passing, and to ensure that the transition is peaceful. A situation with my own dog helped shape my viewpoint on euthanasia, and serves as a reminder on how I can best help my patients by being their advocate. When I was working as a veterinary technician, my family dog had her first congestive heart failure episode because of mitral valve disease. We were able to stabilize her for some time, but her quality of life wasn’t the same. Her veterinarian told me that considering euthanasia would be appropriate, but I was waiting for my dog to tell me she was ready. We made the decision to euthanize her after a shift at work, and when she walked through the doors into the treatment area, I realized we had waited too long. This experience has stuck with me, and is something I always keep in mind when families and patients who call for help. 

Pronouns: She / Her