In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Chester County

I grew up on Long Island, NY, surrounded by pets big and small since childhood. I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I could remember. I recently stumbled across a kindergarten assignment: "where do you see yourself in 20 years." I enthusiastically answered “as a vet, treating a snowflake white Dalmatian!” Although I don’t see as many Dalmatians as my younger self would have hoped, the sentiment still rings true.

My lifelong passion to pursue a career in veterinary medicine led me to get my degree in biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, before traveling to New England to attend The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Following graduation, I began practicing in Delaware and then Pennsylvania - not quite as cold as the New England winters, but still close to my roots in New York. I entered a fast-paced general practice, but found myself longing for a deeper and more personal connection with clients and their pets. I discovered I loved house call appointments because they gave me the opportunity to understand a family’s goals, as well as the pet’s day-to-day life and home environment. I loved knowing that when I entered a home, pets viewed me as a friend and not an intimidating doctor. 

Whenever I tell people that I'm a veterinarian, one of the most common stories I hear is that of their pet’s final moments. Initially I found this surprising, but after years of practicing, I have discovered that this moment is of the utmost importance in both a pet’s life as well as a family’s. I realized that if I could make those moments absolutely perfect, I could bring both peace and relief to pets and their families. I am honored to have the opportunity to be welcomed into your home to help you through difficult decisions, and, when it’s time, help your pet pass with grace and dignity surrounded by loved ones (and hopefully with lots of tasty snacks they're normally not allowed to have).

When I’m not practicing medicine, I enjoy hiking, hosting game nights, drawing and painting, and spending time with my husband and our furry and feathered family. We share our home with a sweet black and white boxer mix named Juno (who is a bit of a nervous nellie), a fluffy attention seeking street dog named Winston Furchill Longbody IV, a mischievous cat named Catrick, and an elderly yet strong-willed rescue cockatiel named Bobby. 

Pronouns: She/Her

I’m originally from the suburbs just north of Boston, which means I’m no stranger to cold weather. Growing up, I was always drawn toward a career of service, so I started by serving my country. I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and upon graduation I was commissioned as an officer in the US Army. In the Army I witnessed the awe-inspiring abilities of service animals. I marveled at the human-animal bond between soldiers with PTSD and service dogs. The dedication and loyalty that these animals and humans provided each other compelled me to pursue veterinary medicine. My sense of service grew into a desire to foster and protect this bond.

After leaving the Army, I attended Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. I felt every success and heartache alongside the families we helped. For me, the most fulfilling was serving as the support for a family experiencing the loss of their loved one. I have experienced loss in a variety of ways throughout my life-including several of my own pets. Recently, I said goodbye to my 9-year-old cat, George, who had lymphoma. I am thankful for the time I had with him and miss him every day. He is always in my heart and memories, and I am grateful for the peaceful passing he had.  

The bond between people and our pets is strong, and it is real. I was drawn to a career in end-of-life care to be able to support and comfort families and their loved ones through this process. It is an honor to help families in such a delicate and meaningful way.  

Outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and running. The beach is one of my favorite places to spend the day with my husband, young son, and our dog.

I'm originally from Berwyn, Pennsylvania. I went to Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and I spent most of my time training and studying capuchin and squirrel monkeys while earning my bachelor’s degree in biology. 

During college, I also worked at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center on the University of Pennsylvania campus, training working dogs for potential careers in search and rescue, human remains recovery, cancer detection, diabetic alert, law enforcement apprehension and narcotics and explosives detection. I also performed individual research projects in sports medicine and olfaction. I finally fulfilled my dream of joining the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine as a vet student in 2016. 

I have special interests in surgery, canine fitness, the human-animal bond, and supporting families during quality-of-life discussions and humane euthanasia. 

I currently live in Wayne, Pennsylvania with my one-eyed cat, Slim. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time outdoors, golfing, and watching Philly sports.

As the daughter of a Navy man, I moved around a lot as a child. Fortunately, I always had pets by my side who became my best friends and closest allies, no matter where my family’s travels took me. 

I continued to travel as I pursued my veterinary education. I received my veterinary degree from Cornell University in New York and completed an Internship at Texas A&M, followed by a residency in internal medicine at North Carolina State University. 

Since becoming a veterinarian, the exploration of the human-animal bond has been the focus of my life. More than twenty years ago, I moved to the UK to teach at the Royal Veterinary College, and three years later, I accepted a position at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, north of London. In this role I traveled globally, training thousands of veterinarians, and co-authored books in a partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that produced evidence of the profound role that pets play in our relationships, communities, and everyday lives. 

My husband and I have a thriving menagerie of cats, dogs, and fish and we have also lost many pets over the years. We know personally the pain of having to say goodbye to a beloved best friend, wishing we could extend their lives to match our own. We sought the services of veterinarians to provide at-home euthanasia for our own pets to help us be present as they crossed over, and the experiences have been deeply moving.  

I am grateful for the empathy and compassion of veterinarians who make end-of-life care a part of their career, and by joining the Lap of Love team I can give back by helping people who love their pets as family and need our comforting services to ensure their pets pass peacefully and with dignity in their own homes.