In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Chicago & Surrounding Suburbs

My suburban Indiana childhood was not filled with a multitude of pets like many of my veterinary colleagues.  My mother had a strict “no creepy crawly” rule, which meant if it was not a cat or a dog then the answer was “no”. Unfortunately, our family dogs passed when I was in grade school, and many years went by before there was another pet in our home.  During sophomore year of high school, I was gifted with my beloved Leopold (Siamese mix) and shortly after, Carlyle (orange tabby), who both continue to fill my life with love and joy today.  Despite the absence of a furry companion for many of my formative years, I have no memory of a time in my life when my love for animals failed to burn reverently in my heart. My parents spared no opportunity to support my passion. They not only exposed me to different aspects of the veterinary field, such as general practice, zoo medicine, and animal industry, they also instilled in me a strong work ethic and high standard of excellence. 

I am not sure if my parents ever knew how serious I was about becoming a veterinarian until I went to college, but unbeknownst to them, the support that they provided would be all that was needed to achieve my goal.   The beginning of my journey started at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida where I received a Bachelors of Agriculture with a pre-veterinary medicine focus.  During my tenure at FAMU, I actively participated in social and scholastic organizations, such as Mahogany Dance Theatre, Relay for Life, Executive Committee member of the Animal Science Club, and Volunteer with the local animal shelter. Upon graduation, my continued pursuit of career took me to the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, with my main focus as Small Animal Medicine; working in small animal surgery suite and participating in low cost community vaccine/spay/neuter clinics. 

Upon graduation, I began working in small animal general practice. I was thrilled to be able to work within a strong and thriving preventative care program, but I found myself wanting to do more for the families and patients that were dealing with difficult diagnoses.  I discovered that, while making the correct diagnosis is important, helping our clients understand what the diagnosis means, how to manage it, and helping them to carry the burden of impending difficult decisions is far more important.  In the general practice setting, I found the support I wanted to give to families and the time and resources I had at my disposal were always at odds. For this reason, I am humbled and honored to be working for a company such as Lap of Love. It is my intention and my blessing to not only provide the best quality of care I can for patients, but to also provide clarity, understanding, and support for clients in a way that is unique to their pet and their individual needs.

I grew up in Houston, Texas, as the oldest of 4 children. I can’t remember when it was that I decided I was going to become a veterinarian but it must have been sometime while my first memories were developing. Luckily, I was born into a family of animal lovers who were more than supportive of my dream. My childhood was spent surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, fish, frogs, rabbits and everything in between. From a young age, I realized that the human-animal bond was special and unique from any other relationship. This is what drove my desire to become a veterinarian.

After graduating from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, I worked in small animal general practice. During my years spent helping families, I had the privilege of witnessing the many stages and forms of the human-animal bond. While I thoroughly enjoy the science and detective work of managing medical and surgical patients, there is no greater honor than helping families and their pets foster the human-animal bond during end of life care. 

Being a life-long pet parent, I understand how difficult it can be to know when and how to say good-bye to a beloved pet. Through Lap of Love, I am blessed with the opportunity to help guide owners through the last chapter of life with their pets. It is my hope to help provide the gift of comfort and a peaceful passing in a way that honors the special bond of a pet.

I grew up in Peoria, a small city in the central Illinois region that houses a diverse population of people dedicated to the health and well-being of their pets. As a young child, I was always fascinated with animals and their health, and after my first time riding a horse at the age of 5, my decision of becoming a veterinarian was solidified. My passion for the field was further fueled in my teenage years while working at Whitney Veterinary Hospital. There, I advanced from a kennel attendant up to the veterinary assistant role. One of the veterinarians took me under her wing and mentored me through medical cases to further expand my knowledge and pique my interest in the career field. 

After high school, I fast tracked my trajectory toward becoming a veterinarian. I completed my undergraduate studies at Illinois Central College then transferred to University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana College of Veterinary Medicine to obtain my veterinary degree. In veterinary school, I stumbled upon a unique interest in grief counseling through a bereavement class I attended, run by a therapist working for the university. The latter opened my eyes to a focus in my career that I was unaware of at the time. Through this class, I volunteered as a pet loss advocate on the school's hotline. 

Since veterinary school, I have led a diverse life in this career field, having practiced in small animal exclusive hospitals, managed a relief company in the Chicagoland area, performed in home euthanasia (prior to joining Lap of Love), and even led a team as Chief of Staff. I’ve always tailored my focus as a veterinarian toward quality of life and the human-animal bond, while supporting families in making decisions regarding the health and well-being of their pet(s). Though, I’ve worn many hats throughout my career, I’ve always gravitated toward end-of-life care and value the unique privilege of assisting families in the comfort of their own home with this valuable service. By providing in home care, pets can feel most at ease during this critical time in their lives. Helping these families also provides me with the ability to make myself available to ease some of their pain through my passion of grief counseling. 

Outside of work, you can usually find me working out, hiking, painting, spending time with my son, William, and devoting lots of cuddle time to my cat, Rack, and dog, Paco. My past interests include competing as a professional, natural bodybuilder, while now, I continue to incorporate exercise as a healthy coping mechanism in my daily life. 

I have been passionate about animals since I was young.  I can’t fully explain it, but there is something in my core that has always drawn me to veterinary medicine. I was born in Ontario, Canada and moved to Champaign, Illinois at the age of ten. Growing up, we had a dog, ferret, guinea pig, rabbit, and several cats, hamsters, and even rats—my favorite of the “pocket pets.” My pets were such a comfort throughout my childhood, with their unconditional love, hugs, and kisses. My mom remembers me declaring that I would grow up to be a veterinarian when I was just 5 years old, so I guess it really was meant to be.

I began my veterinary medicine journey when I was just 14, volunteering at a local veterinary practice. I worked in the kennel, restocked shelves, and cleaned the exam rooms and floors. Even doing the dirty work, I was instantly at home and knew, without a doubt, this was how I wanted to spend my life. I quickly worked through the ranks and eventually became  a receptionist and veterinary assistant. I worked at the practice throughout my undergraduate studies and am grateful for my early experiences in veterinary medicine.  

I received my undergraduate degree in biology, as well as my veterinary degree, from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During veterinary school, I gained experience working in the veterinary school’s small animal surgery department, and eventually the in-hospital laboratory, as a student technician. Since graduating from veterinary school, I’ve had many unique experiences that have taken me all over the country, working in small animal practices in Colorado, Maine, and Ohio. I even lived on a sailboat with my family for four years! 

I love every aspect of veterinary medicine, and my work as a small animal general practitioner has given me the opportunity to practice medicine and surgery while nurturing pets and their families throughout their lives.  I am trained in veterinary rehabilitation and acupuncture, and treat my patients with complementary and holistic techniques, in addition to traditional medicine. 

I value the opportunity to help families understand different ways to treat their beloved pet, and to counsel them through the most difficult decision to let them go, even when that’s the last thing their heart wants. I know how calm and nurturing the transition can be when a pet is able to pass quietly at home, surrounded by familiar faces and wrapped in love. In-home end-of-life care allows me to combine my passion for helping pets with my desire to help people.

Outside of work you can find me outdoors on walks or a neighborhood bike ride with the kids. To relax, I enjoy practicing qi gong, a flowing blend of yoga and tai chi, and I’m learning to play the ukulele. I love spending time with my husband, our two teen/tween kids, and our little dog, “Dave-the-girl-dog.”

I grew up in Worth, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, which is fairly small so I was able to walk to school each day. I lived with my mother, grandparents, and uncle, and we primarily spoke Polish, which was my first language. 

While I did play with a few dolls as a young girl, I gravitated more toward animal toys. Like many other veterinarians, I think I knew from a young age that I wanted to care for animals. When I was around 5 years old, I visited family in Poland and we found a small bird that appeared ill. My cousins and I secretly kept it inside for a few days, feeding it moistened bread and water. Eventually, we opened up the window in the bedroom and were able to watch it fly away! That is one of my fondest memories, and I reflected on it often during college and veterinary school. I earned my bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and my veterinary degree from St. George's University on the gorgeous island of Grenada in the West Indies.

I have worked in general practice, but found that this area of veterinary medicine does not fulfill my desire to make the world a better place, and to do the best I can for every patient. During veterinary school, I really enjoyed shelter work. Since the pets had no owners, I was able to make the best decisions for their care, and do whatever I could to help them heal. I was also able to spay and neuter many pets to prevent overpopulation and decrease unwanted animals in the area I was serving. I loved being able to ensure pets were healthy before they went home to their forever families. 

I believe the ability to perform in-home end-of-life care is an honor and a sincere privilege. This is the ultimate way to serve my patients, and prevent their suffering. I wish everyone could ultimately rest while comfortable, surrounded by everyone they love, and in their own home. Hospital settings can be cold, sterile, and stress-inducing. There is no better gift than allowing a pet and their family to experience their last moments of life in their most beloved place. 

Outside of veterinary medicine, I am interested in vintage and antique clothing and housewares. I enjoy spending time with my dog, trying new foods, and taking classes to learn new skills!

Growing up, I lived in the northern suburbs of Chicago near the Wisconsin border. I always enjoyed being able to drive by fields filled with cows, horses, and corn as well as hopping across the state line to grab some cheese curds every once in a while!

I was always surrounded by furry friends, big and small during my childhood. Like many others in the profession, I have wanted to be a veterinarian since before I can remember. I loved more than just my own pets growing up. I also loved the wild salamanders, toads, and monarch butterflies I would find in our backyard, even if my parents weren’t so excited every time I brought home another “exotic” creature to show them. I wanted to help every animal I met. As I also discovered my love for science and medicine, my passion only grew. I loved the idea of combining my love for science, animals, and their people into a career I would truly enjoy.

I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Elmhurst College before attending the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where I received my veterinary degree. After graduating from veterinary school I made the big move to Dallas, Texas where I worked for many years in small animal general practice.

From young pets to senior pets, I loved working with families to create the best plan to keep their best friend healthy as well as to decipher their pet’s illness and work together to heal them. However, I feel there is nothing more honorable than guiding pets and their people through end-of-life care. It is such an immense privilege to be fully present with families and to foster the human-animal bond in such a loving and peaceful way. I have said goodbye to my own pup at home, and I truly value the opportunity to provide the same closure for others and their loved ones in the comfort of home as well.

Outside of doing this important work, I love exploring nature and going on walks and hikes with my husband and 3 rescue dogs. I also love being at home baking, cooking, and playing video games.