In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Orange County California

I was born and raised in San Diego, CA where my natural love for animals was nurtured by my two childhood dogs, trips to the San Diego Zoo, and horseback riding lessons. My Animal Science degree was completed at Cal Poly Pomona where I continued to work and learn with horses, livestock, and small animals. Working part-time in the university’s housing department and later on in a private small animal hospital helped keep my schedule even more busy, while also developing skills I use every day with pet families.

My vet school adventures took me to Arizona where I learned more than ever at Midwestern University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. It was during that time that I realized I truly enjoyed working with companion pets by advocating for their needs while partnering with their human friends. After completing vet school, I decided to go straight into the workplace as an Associate Veterinarian for small animals. I’ve treated all kinds of pets from young puppies and kittens to those sweet geriatric patients. It was with that experience that I realized my biggest purpose as a veterinarian is to alleviate pain from my patients. My heart has grown through working with older pets, and I’ve found it especially rewarding to guide pet families as they navigated the changes their senior pets face. One of the greatest gifts I am able to offer as a veterinarian is helping a family find peace throughout the euthanasia process. It is an honor to be there through these delicate moments, and to be able to help with preserving the memory of that final day.

Outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy riding and caring for horses, watching all kinds of movies with my husband, and taking many pictures of my pet rabbit, S’mores, and rescue dog, Kojak.

I grew up in the Fingerlakes region of New York state and always knew my path involved caring for animals. I earned degrees in marine biology and zoology before ultimately obtaining my veterinary degree at Tufts University. My career has taken me all over the country, from New York, to Florida, to Arizona, and finally to California, where I have built a life in Orange County. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to help all types of wildlife and exotic pets, in addition to cats and dogs. 

My own beloved dog, Maddie, recently passed away after a long illness. She was a yellow Labrador, and had been with me since she was three days old. I did my best to make her comfortable in her final months, and knew when I needed to alleviate her suffering to help her pass in peace and love. After almost 13 years, she was able to pass in my arms, knowing that I loved her more than anything. 

The majority of my work has been in the emergency medicine field. I have met many people on the worst day of their life, when they have brought their pet in with a severe illness or injury. Helping pets pass peacefully is the last gift we can give them, and was always the most rewarding aspect of my work in emergency medicine. Working with Lap of Love, I can give that peace to families and their loved ones in an environment where they feel safe and loved. I especially enjoy being able to pay forward the peace and support I experienced when helping my own sweet Maddie cross over the rainbow bridge. 

I grew up in South Bend, Indiana. I still have many ties to the Midwest, as many friends and my husband's family live there. I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I could talk. I can remember practicing physical exams on our very patient dog, who almost succumbed to parvovirus when he was a puppy. 

I earned my bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and my veterinary degree from Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine. During vet school, I was on the One Health Organization board, and I worked on exploring the human-animal bond and how veterinary professionals can help maintain that relationship for our pets and families. I have worked in small animal general practice since graduating, and I like getting to know pets and their families. I have also developed a passion for helping older pets enjoy their golden years. I enjoy visiting clients’ homes to determine what environmental modifications may make a pet more comfortable as they age. 

When my parents’ most recent pet passed, no at-home euthanasia service was available in their town. Our family veterinarian tried their best to make it as low stress as possible, but I wish we could have given him the gift of being in his own home. I like the idea of pets passing at home, without the stress of traveling to an unfamiliar place or somewhere they may not enjoy. 

When I am not working, I enjoy baking, hiking, and traveling to new places.

Growing up in a family of medical professionals in Southern California, I gravitated toward the biological sciences and had a deep fondness for my animal companions. Whether I was feeding garter snakes, rescuing baby squirrels, raising chickens, or playing with my pet guinea pigs, cats, boxers, or horses, I spent much of my childhood surrounded by animals. Caring for—and losing—my first horse, Grizzly Bear, helped me realize that veterinary medicine was my purpose in life. 

I received my bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and attended the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, which was the newest veterinary college in North America at that time. My four years there brought me several lifelong friends and experiences from the frozen north which I will never forget. 

After graduating with my veterinary degree, I was fortunate to work with a veterinarian I had known and loved since I was a child. I was thrilled to become his associate, and I enjoyed working with him and making close connections with my pet patients and their families for 15 years. 

I learned a lot about senior caregiving when I put my career on pause to care for my aging parents and their health issues. While being a caregiver is challenging work, it is done with so much love, and I am grateful that my parents and I shared that experience. 

As our pets age, we often must navigate similar territory, battling their health conditions, supporting their slowing bodies, and making difficult end-of-life decisions to relieve their suffering. 

When the opportunity came to join Lap of Love, I knew that I wanted to use my veterinary skills to support pets and people during a challenging time. It’s never easy saying goodbye to a pet, but I feel honored to be able to provide comfort to others with my experience, understanding, and respect for the circle of life.