In-Home Pet Euthanasia in The Twin Cities: Minneapolis & St. Paul Area

I grew up in Hermantown, Minnesota, which is at the tip of Lake Superior. I originally started college at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus with the intent of entering human medicine. Though, a part-time veterinary assistant job in a small animal clinic made me realize that I wanted to work with animals. After obtaining a biology degree, I completed veterinary school at Purdue University.

I enjoy working alongside pet owners to help ensure the animals they love live long, happy lives. I enjoy helping new pet parents learn about the value of preventive medicine, and I find it immensely rewarding to provide supportive care to animals in their golden years. 

Many experiences have shaped my views about veterinary care and euthanasia, yet two in particular stand out. My childhood cat, Oscar, struggled with inappropriate urination, and my family tried to solve the problem by transitioning him to an indoor/outdoor lifestyle. When Oscar died after being hit by a car, we were devastated. It was not until I started down the path of veterinary medicine that I learned there were alternate options available in these types of situations. 

While working as a veterinary assistant, I had an eye-opening euthanasia experience. My family’s elderly dog, Lexi, suffered from weakness in her back end that affected her quality of life. We decided it was time, and my family brought her in. I had become familiar with the euthanasia process, but seeing how upset my mom became as Lexi took her last breaths has always stuck with me. From then on, it has always been my goal to try to make the end-of-life transition as peaceful as I can for  the pet and their family. I view humane euthanasia as one of the most loving choices an owner can make for their pet, and as a veterinarian I feel so grateful that I have the ability to relieve an animal’s suffering and grant them a peaceful end-of-life experience. 

When I am not working, I enjoy going on road trips, camping with my family, having game nights with friends, and catching up on my favorite television shows. 

My love for animals began at an early age. I grew up in St Paul, Minnesota, surrounded by a menagerie of pets including hamsters, guinea pigs, and a beloved black Lab named Ollie. Some of my fondest childhood memories include visits to my Uncle Mase’s sheep farm in Ohio. He would put me to work everyday helping him care for the sheep and young lambs. It was hard work but I loved it, and it solidified my desire to spend my life helping animals. 

My passion led me to earn a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and then a veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. 

I spent the next 26 years working in a small animal clinic north of St Paul. I really enjoyed my job, especially the close relationships I developed with my clients and their furry family members. I loved seeing them year after year, and watching them grow from a puppy or kitten into old age. My special interests include behavioral medicine, geriatric health, and Fear Free handling techniques. Over the years, I found I especially enjoyed working with elderly pets, and helping their owners keep them healthy, happy, and comfortable for as long as possible. 

When the time came for my clients to say goodbye to their beloved companions, I always considered it an honor and a privilege to provide a dignified and peaceful transition from this life to the next. Lap of Love’s dedication to peaceful in-home euthanasia and hospice aligns perfectly with my philosophy, and I am happy to have the opportunity to focus on this important and sacred aspect of veterinary medicine. 

In my free time, I volunteer with our local Street Dog Coalition and with Can Do Canines Assistance Dogs, and volunteer with two organizations in Negril, Jamaica: Negril Pup Rescue and Negril Spay/Neuter Clinic. I enjoy spending time with my husband and teenage daughter at our cabin on the Gunflint Trail, and hanging out with a continued menagerie of pets, including our two sweet, mischievous cats and two lovable Labrador retrievers.

A Minnesota native, I grew up on a hobby farm north of Moorhead with dogs, cats, chickens, and horses. I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian from a young age (or a princess, which I eventually learned is a hard market to tap into). After giving up my dream of becoming royalty, I earned a degree in biology from St. Olaf College and later completed veterinary school at the University of Minnesota. 

My favorite parts of veterinary medicine include supporting geriatric pets and their families, fostering the human-animal bond, and providing peaceful end-of-life care. I have personally cared for beloved aging pets, and I know how difficult it can be to decide on the right time to say goodbye. Being supported by colleagues in those situations and relying on my fellow veterinarians' counsel showed me just how valuable it is to have a compassionate, understanding guide for both myself and my pets during the dying process. I hope to provide that same support and comfort for families as they navigate one of the hardest, but most important decisions of their lives. 

In my life outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy reading for fun, exercising, eating delicious food, and spending time with friends. I share my home with my partner AJ, who is also a veterinarian, and our two dogs and two cats.

I grew up in Jordan, Minnesota, a beautiful little town in the Minnesota River Valley on the outskirts of the Twin Cities metro area. I have always loved animals—I would shove my face in the long fur of my childhood dog, Puddles, although I was allergic and it made me sneeze! We lost her when I was in elementary school, and my family didn't get another pet, despite my constant begging. I was reintroduced to my love of animals in my mid-20s, when I lived with a dog and a cat. Happily, with medication, we all lived in harmony with very little sneezing. From that point forward, I couldn't imagine living without animals in my life. 

Much differently than others, I didn't always want to be a vet. I have always had a strong desire to serve others, and my first career was in domestic hunger relief. However, I longed to work with animals, and at the age of 30, I sought out a fitting career. A friend off-handedly said, "Why don't you be a vet?" I had never considered becoming a veterinarian, despite loving science in my younger days. I started shadowing at a veterinary clinic, and taking science courses, and I immediately fell in love! I spent the next seven years completing prerequisite science classes—one night course at a time—and shadowing. Eleven years after my first night class, in 2011, I graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine! 

I cannot imagine my life without the joy that animals bring, and there is nothing that makes me happier than helping to strengthen that bond for others. I enjoy educating pet owners about how best to keep their pets healthy, and alleviating owners’ fears and anxieties when I return their sick pets back to health. And when we cannot, my goal is to help pet parents make the best choices possible for their beloved pets. 

I have lost many pets, and have struggled with not only the loss, but whether I made the best decisions. (Yes, vets struggle with these questions too!) The many losses, including personal pets and patients, have provided a deep compassion to help pet parents make peace with these tough questions so that their last moments with their pet are meaningful, peaceful, and whole. 

In my spare time, I enjoy power lounging with my dogs, Izzy and Freida, my five cats, and occasionally my husband!

I grew up in Orono, Minnesota, and my parents still reside in the same house on Lake Minnetonka, where I enjoy spending time in the summer. My grandfather was a veterinarian and I knew from a young age that I also wanted to be a vet. I was the typical animal-crazy kid who wanted to keep everything with fur, feathers or scales. I was especially in love with horses and spent as much time with them as I could. I started riding at the age of 10 and still enjoy riding and spending time with my horse, mule, and donkeys. 

I went to Otterbein University outside of Columbus, Ohio, where I earned degrees in equine science and veterinary technology. I worked for two years in Ohio as a veterinary technician before moving back to Minnesota, where I continued working as a technician while I went back to school to complete the prerequisite requirements for vet school. I graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts. I loved the education I received from the veterinary school and from living in another country. 

After veterinary school, I moved back to Minnesota and started my own mobile equine veterinary practice. It was a very busy lifestyle and I found the work rewarding and fun. I also provided some in-home, end-of-life care for clients’ pets and found it a true honor to provide the pet and their family dignity and peace in the comfort of their own home. 

I adopted my own first dog from my undergraduate research program. She was my companion through undergrad, veterinary school, and the years between. The summer after I graduated veterinary school, it became clear she was in pain, and my efforts could no longer keep her comfortable. I brought her to her favorite place—my parent's house—and said goodbye on the shore of the lake that she adored. Although it was one of the hardest days of my life, it made me realize what a blessing we can give to animals, and that it made a difference to have her in a place where she was happy and calm. I think it is an honor to give animals a dignified and peaceful ending. I take pride in being able to help families navigate the end-of-life process and I always aim to make a really difficult day a little bit better. 

When I am not working, I love to travel, hike and scuba dive. I live on a small farm and also enjoy spending time with my animals. 

I grew up in Western Michigan and loved animals from an early age. However, the animal that inspired my passion to pursue a career centered around animal health and welfare was not your typical pet. I had a deep admiration and respect for pigs which set me on the path to where I am today. 

I completed my undergraduate studies at Michigan State University before completing veterinary school at Colorado State University, where I received degrees in veterinary medicine and public health. 

I practiced emergency and urgent care medicine for several years before completing residency training in veterinary public health at the University of Minnesota and obtaining board certification in veterinary preventive medicine. I love many aspects of veterinary medicine, but my favorite part is knowing that I can make a positive impact on the lives of animals and people. 

As both a veterinarian and a dog parent, I know the power of the human-animal bond and how difficult it can be to say goodbye to a cherished pet. I am grateful to be a part of the Lap of Love team, so that I can make the end of an animal’s life as comfortable and peaceful as possible, in their home where they feel safe and surrounded by the people who love them. 

When I’m not working, my husband and I embrace Minnesota life, watching our three small children on the hockey rink and learning to cross country ski. I also enjoy spending time in the backyard  with our sweet black Lab, Brewer, who relishes late summer, when the backyard apple and pear trees bear fruit. Unfortunately, I am still without pigs in my life but hope to add a pig or two—or more—to the crew someday.

I grew up in a small town called Tenafly in northern New Jersey, and I spent much of my time playing in the town’s beautiful, green forests. I have loved animals for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always wanted to become a veterinarian. As I got older, I  had opportunities to gain experience in the field, which solidified my desire.  

I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia and attended Veterinary School at Oklahoma State University. After graduating, I followed my older sister to Minnesota, where I met my husband and had my beautiful daughter, Lucy. I have lived in many places across the country, but Minnesota is my favorite

I worked for 10 years in general practice at a small animal clinic, caring for a wide range of pets, including dogs, cats, and small mammals such as rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs. I love working with people and animals and helping owners care for their pets. The human-animal bond is an amazing thing and it is an honor to spend my time helping others preserve and grow it. 

I have a very calm, supportive, and comforting nature, and providing end-of-life care is a strength and passion of mine. When you share in the sorrow of others, you connect in such a meaningful way. I am honored to be able to provide compassion and understanding as I help families through one of the most difficult days of their lives. 

I have personal experience losing pets, and those experiences have heightened my level of compassion for others going through similar situations. I strive to be as open, understanding, and supportive as possible as I guide families through the end-of-life process and ensure their pet has a calm and peaceful passing.

When I’m not working, I love to bake and cook. I am constantly trying out new recipes to find the best one. I also enjoy reading, going on nature walks with my family, exploring new places, and trying new restaurants.