In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Rochester & Surrounding Areas

There was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to become a veterinarian and that has always been thanks to the incredible bonds I was lucky enough to form with some amazing animals. I grew up on a small hobby farm in Minnesota surrounded by a menagerie of animals: dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, horses… the list goes on!

With my mom’s help and support, I spent my teenage years fostering rescue dogs. Over time, a few of those dogs found their forever home with us. Peaches was a senior pitty who had a really rough start in life. As soon as she came home with us, we all knew (Peaches included) that she had finally found her forever safe place. Miss Peaches spent four years with us and helped raise puppies while always remaining the sweet yet authoritative boss of the household. She was such a blessing in our family, and at the end of her life, we were able to say goodbye in the comfort of our home with the help of our family’s veterinarian. I am thankful beyond words that she could pass peacefully in the place where she knew she was safe and loved, after all those years and her storied past. I keep her tags on my keychain as a reminder that the incredible bond we shared will never be gone. That bond, and others like it, shaped my views as I began my professional career and today it fuels my love for this work.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, I completed an internship with an equine veterinary practice. I have a wide variety of interests including ophthalmology, reproduction medicine, and neonatology. However, my favorite thing about being a veterinarian is having the privilege to connect with and care for people and their beloved pets. In my eyes, there are few ways to better honor the beauty of the human-animal bond than through the gift we provide at Lap of Love. Giving your beloved pet a peaceful passing is an incredible gift and one that I’m humbled to be able to provide. I truly am honored to be there for you during this delicate time. 

Pronouns: She/Her

I grew up in Northern California and Texas. My early childhood was spent in the small town of Petaluma nestled in the rolling hills of Sonoma County. It was an idyllic setting for an early nature-lover like myself. Every weekend, we were off exploring redwood forests, coastal beaches, or fog-filled mountain tops. Growing up in Arlington, Texas, we took advantage of our neighboring city, Fort Worth. The city offers a unique blend of cowboy culture and fine art and there was always a fun museum or park to explore.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to become a vet! I loved accompanying my mom to vet appointments. I even wrote in an early journal when I was 8 years old that I wanted to become a vet. In high school, my mom and I volunteered as wildlife rehabilitators and this was my first experience directly caring for fragile or sick animals. Though challenging at times (particularly when feeding baby squirrels around the clock), it was extremely rewarding and further fueled my interest in animal science.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and later moved across country to obtain my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Western University in Pomona, California. I currently reside in Canandaigua, New York where I have been able to live out my dream of taking care of pets. After vet school, I became particularly passionate about surgery - the skill and execution involved is satisfying to me. (Plus, my years of embroidery and crafting were great preparation for the techniques involved!). I love creative problem solving and putting together clues to find answers and explanations. I also enjoy connecting with the families of the pets, offering compassion and insight while caring for their special family members.

I’ve personally lost one of my own dearest pets, my cat Eliza. She arrived on our doorstep in Texas when I was twelve years old, and immediately bonded with me, making my room her home. While we weren’t sure of her age when we adopted her, she seemed older, so we were all surprised when she lived for another decade. It was the summertime when her health began deteriorating significantly. My family made the decision for euthanasia and we traveled with Eliza to a local veterinary clinic. While the timing was right, the experience at the end was not. Saying goodbye to my companion was agonizing and made more challenging by being in a public space. This experience shaped my desire to bring compassion and respect into end-of-life care for our pets. End of life care is a delicate area of practice. Death is not often a subject that is easy to talk about and face. Being able to provide a calming and supportive presence for the families during this period is a gratifying additional benefit of hospice care. Understanding what this process feels like inspires me in my quest to provide compassionate care for the animals and empathetic support for the people who love them.

Outside of my work as a veterinarian, I’m a big fan of being outside and love spending beautiful days on long walks or hikes. I also enjoy cooking and am always trying new recipes and plotting ways to use everything in my CSA box.