In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Portland, Salem & Surrounding Areas

Growing up in Sherwood, OR, animals were hugely important to my life. I was always surrounded by a menagerie of pets and I knew I would someday have a career working with animals. Over the years, my plans varied from marine biologist to farmer. As I grew older, it became evident that veterinary medicine was the perfect combination of my love for animals and science. My first job at 16 was cleaning kennels at a veterinary clinic, and I’ve been hooked ever since. 

I received my undergraduate degree from Oregon State University, and then spent two years living in rural Madagascar as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, my projects included rice intensification, a school garden, water sanitation, and girl empowerment. When I returned home, I resumed my studies and later graduated from Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Following graduation, I worked as a mixed animal general practitioner, treating everything from cats to goats. My favorite part of general practice was the need for continual learning—every day brought something new. During my time in general practice, I found great fulfillment in guiding families through end-of-life decisions and helping pets pass peacefully. As a veterinarian, the ability to end a pet’s suffering is the most important part of my job. I have had two of my own pets—Max the dog and Walter the rabbit—euthanized at home, and they were undeniably calmer and more comfortable in their own space. I am honored to be allowed into homes to provide such a vital service for pets and their families.

Outside of work I enjoy exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest and spending time with my grumpy rescue rabbit named Dash.

I was born in New York, and then moved to the large suburban city of Coral Springs in South Florida. Growing up, we always had dogs and cats, and they were part of the family. I was the child who rescued injured baby birds and other animals, and brought them to local veterinary clinics for care. Like many kids, I declared, "I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up!" and I’m thrilled that I was able to follow that career path. 

I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for my undergraduate work , where I studied biological anthropology and zoology. After graduating, I completed veterinary school at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.  

For nearly twenty years, I have worked in small animal practice, happily spending 17 of those years at the same practice. I love the relationships I form with families and their pets, and I have always enjoyed watching my patients grow from puppies to seniors. I can tailor my patients’ care throughout their lives to ensure they are happy and comfortable, and being able to help families navigate their pet’s life journey, from beginning to end, is a wonderful experience. 

I have experienced the extremes of pet loss. I had to euthanize my beloved rescue dog at an emergency hospital in a very chaotic setting, and it was not an experience I would wish on anyone. In contrast, the euthanasia of my special senior German shorthair pointer in a grassy outdoor field was an amazing and peaceful experience. Having lost pets of my own, I know how much a guiding hand can help people through this difficult experience, and I feel fortunate to be able to support families and their pets through my role at Lap of Love. 

In my free time, I enjoy running with my active German shorthair pointer through Forest Park, and when the weather is nice, I enjoy hiking. During the wet winter you can find me playing board games with my family, reading, and snowboarding on Mt. Hood! 

I grew up in Kirkland, Washington, about 30 minutes outside of Seattle. Growing up I had a prized stuffed dog named DoDo who went everywhere with me, and experienced a lot of wear and tear as a result. Every time he would split open and start oozing stuffing my mom and I would perform “surgery”—she would grab her sewing kit, and we would save his life! These experiences sparked my love for veterinary medicine, and DoDo now lives in my daughter’s crib, where she cuddles him every night. 

I studied animal science at Washington State University, and worked for the university after graduation, conducting dairy cattle nutrition research trials. Two years later, I started veterinary school at WSU. Pullman, Washington was the best place to go to school, and I miss it very much! 

After graduating from veterinary school, I moved to Tillamook, Oregon where I worked as a mixed animal practitioner, treating mostly small animals and dairy cows. My husband—boyfriend at the time—is also a veterinarian, and he moved to Oregon from New York, and began working at a different practice in the same small town. After two years, we moved closer to Portland, got married, had our daughter, and I took a job at a small animal hospital specializing in dentistry. 

During my time as a general practitioner, I have guided many families through the process of making end-of-life decisions for their pets. I have been there to support families and pets in those last moments, many of which were in a home setting or special place, such as the beach or a pet’s favorite dock. A calm, peaceful environment to say “goodbye” is truly a gift, and I look forward to offering this vital service to pets and families in my community. 

In my free time, I love being a mom to my daughter Atlee, experiencing new things with her, and watching her learn. We also love to spend time outside as a family with our two dogs, Ace and Petrie.

I grew up on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. My family lived in an apartment, so we could not have pets. However, my parents—who were animal lovers—took me to the Humane Society on weekends to play with the cats and dogs. My father would also bring home injured birds he found on the golf course, and we would nurse them back to health. I realized that veterinary medicine perfectly combined my love for medicine and animals, and my parents helped nurture my growing passion.  

I completed my undergraduate work at Hanover College, and my postgraduate studies at the University of Hawaii Manoa. I then earned my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University. Since graduation, I have worked in emergency medicine across the country, including in Michigan, New Mexico, and California. 

I believe that making the decision to euthanize a pet is difficult and always comes from a place of love. It is a selfless act. My goal is to make the experience as peaceful as possible for pets and their families. I was able to have my own soul dog euthanized at home, and it was so much more intimate and comfortable than a hospital euthanasia. I want to provide that same peaceful experience for other families.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, rock climbing, gardening, sewing, and upcycling curbside and thrift store finds. 

I grew up in a small town on Lake Michigan, where I enjoyed the freedom of being able to explore the woods and beach near my childhood home. As a kid, I thought I would grow up to be an entomologist (i.e., insect scientist) or herpetologist (i.e., reptile scientist). I worked in a spider research lab in college and spent a year studying spotted hyenas in Kenya before deciding that research wasn't the long-term career I wanted, so I elected to go to veterinary school. 

I attended undergraduate school at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon and veterinary school at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Vet school combined my love of animals, science, and medicine, and allowed me to spend quality time with some amazing pets and to see the magic of the human-animal bond every day. 

After vet school, I worked in emergency medicine. While I loved helping pets and their families in difficult situations, I found that some of my most meaningful moments were helping geriatric or very ill pets find comfort and peace during end-of-life care. It is important to me that the euthanasia process goes smoothly and the families of these pets feel taken care of and supported. My goal is to always bring peace and comfort in these difficult moments. 

I took over the care of a senior cat who was incredibly special to me for her last few years. Learning how to adapt to her changing needs taught me so much about caring for aging pets. This experience led to the dream of someday having an assisted living facility for older cats. I would love to take senior cats out of the shelter and into a comfortable, loving home for the remainder of their lives.

Outside of work, I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time hiking, backpacking, and trail running with my fiance. I am a lifelong runner and love the running community! I also love reading and always have a stack of books waiting for me on my bedside stand.