In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Nashville & Surrounding Areas

Growing up on a small farm in Lebanon, TN, I was lucky enough to have an assortment of rescued dogs, cats, and horses. Although I have always been an animal lover, I initially dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. I enrolled at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a focus on Biology/Pre-med. After shadowing both human and veterinary medicine, I naturally gravitated towards working with animals and changed my path to a Bachelors in Animal Science. I loved UT so much, I stayed four more years to obtain my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.

After graduation, I had an amazing opportunity to stay in the East Tennessee area and work as an associate doctor at a thriving small animal hospital. It was during this time I realized that, although I do love seeing cute puppies and kittens every day, my passion is in working with senior patients and their families to help improve quality of life. I find great joy in working alongside pet owners to find solutions to keep their pets comfortable as they approach the end of their lives. A large part of that is also walking them through the painful process of letting their beloved family member go.

I know firsthand how difficult a moment in life like this can be. I was honored to provide my own 19-year-old kitty, Rowdy, a comfortable and peaceful passing when it was her time. Although I did everything I possibly could for her, she was not responding to therapy for her kidney disease. The kindest thing I could do was to let her be at peace. It was a devastating moment, but at the same time, I know it was a beautiful gift that I was able to give her. I feel she was able to reciprocate that gift by giving me an eyeopening perspective on exactly what so many pet parents feel. This personal experience will allow me to better help you and your family through this difficult process.

This passion of mine is ultimately what lead me to Lap of Love. My calling is to help families and their pets during this sensitive time. People often comment on how difficult this part of my job must be. My response is always that I can't be sad when I know that I am helping give a beloved pet a peaceful ending to a wonderful life. I truly am honored and privileged to be there for you and your family!

I grew up in sunny Southern California surrounded by animals, including pigs, chickens, horses, rabbits, dogs, and cats. I spent most of my time horseback riding in the riverbed close to my home with the Quarter horses my family raised and bred. When I wasn't horseback riding, I enjoyed sunning at the beach and kayaking in the bay. I loved everything about animals, and I knew my career would involve working with them in some way. One night, one of our foals managed to slice his lip open. I was fascinated by the veterinarian’s ability to help repair his wound, and that was the moment I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. 

I completed my veterinary degree at Ross University in the Caribbean, and did my clinical studies at The Ohio State University, which is where I met my fiancé. The best part of being a veterinarian is the ability to provide the best care possible to allow a pet to live a long, happy life with their family. 

I enjoy helping families with end-of-life care because I am able to play a large role in providing peace and comfort during a difficult time. Saying goodbye is the hardest part of owning a pet, and often comes with doubt, stress, and fear. I feel honored to have the opportunity to make a family feel more at ease during one of the hardest parts of their life. I value the importance of ensuring a pet has a peaceful transition over to the rainbow bridge, which is what every animal deserves. 

When I am not working, I enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. My favorites are horseback riding—I currently do not have my own horses, but I hope to change that soon—kayaking, hiking, and camping. When I am not outdoors, I enjoy painting and reading a good thriller.

I grew up in a small town in New Jersey about 40 minutes outside of New York City. I received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Davidson College in North Carolina. During college, I spent a semester abroad studying marine ecology and biology in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Part of the learning experience involved daily SCUBA diving. I also spent a summer in a rural village in Zambia working at the local school and human hospital. While there, I was able to travel to Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania, including a trip to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I spent two years after college as an English teacher in a small village in Japan and lived in Washington, DC for several years prior to veterinary school. 

I attended veterinary school at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. After veterinary school I completed a one year rotating internship in internal medicine, surgery, and emergency medicine at Carolina Veterinary Specialists. I relocated to Nashville in 2013 after completing the internship, and have been in small animal general practice since. My areas of interest include dentistry, pain management, internal medicine, and feline medicine. 

I chose to become a veterinarian because it fulfilled my desire to serve others while using love of and aptitude for science and medicine. Veterinary medicine allows me to help animals and their families at all life stages. Being a veterinarian means a lifelong commitment to learning and caring for animals. 

I lost my own heart dog, Finnegan, a chocolate Labrador retriever, in 2015 from end stage kidney failure and lymphoma. Prior to her passing, our whole canine and human family had a photo shoot at Centennial Park. We then spoiled Finnegan at home with all her favorite forbidden treats (McNuggets, hamburgers, ice cream) and let her pass peacefully in her favorite spot in our backyard surrounded by her favorite humans. Letting her pass peacefully and with dignity was one of the best decisions I made as her owner and friend.

I grew up in the Inglewood area of East Nashville, and always had pets as a child. I felt a special bond with animals and loved science—especially biology. By the time I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to help animals. During my first job as a veterinary technician, I helped resuscitate puppies after a C-section birth, and the experience solidified my passion for veterinary medicine. 

I completed my undergraduate education in history and pre-professional studies at the University of Notre Dame before attending veterinary school at Kansas State University. I have spent the last six years working in the fast-paced environment of emergency medicine. I enjoy helping pets heal, and supporting families during their most stressful times. 

Losing my first “grown-up” dog, Ara, helped me understand the grief process and gave me so much empathy for pet owners in similar circumstances. Ara developed uncontrollable seizures, and my husband and I said goodbye to him in the emergency clinic where I worked. I wish he had been able to pass in the comfort of our home, and I am glad I am able to provide this service for other families. 

I have learned so much about how to nurture, support, and validate those who are struggling from my husband, a marriage and family therapist. I appreciate that there is a need for compassionate, understanding, and supportive veterinarians to help families struggling with the end of their pets' lives, and it is so fulfilling to be able to be a person families can trust and lean on as they say goodbye to their beloved pet.  

When I’m not working, I love hiking with my husband, daughter, and our dog, Bowie. My husband and I are die-hard music lovers and love to go to concerts in this great music town. We also are avid hockey and football fans!

I am a native Nashvillian, and I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian since kindergarten. As the daughter of an attorney, I once told my mom that I would gladly get up in the middle of the night to help an animal in need, but NOT to bail someone out of jail!

While my interest in veterinary medicine was long-standing, I did not take a linear path to veterinary school. I obtained my undergraduate degree in natural resources from Sewanee—The University Of The South in Tennessee. 

After graduation, I moved to the Atlanta area where I worked as a construction subcontractor. One day, while working on a job site, I realized time was running out to pursue my dream of being a veterinarian. So, I took additional courses needed for veterinary school while working full time, and applied to the University of Georgia—and the rest is history.

Upon graduating with my DVM, I moved back to Atlanta, where I worked in emergency medicine, general practice, and relief work before answering my father’s pleas of “come home, Lucy” and returning to my native Tennessee to raise my family. I spent time working at a mobile spay-neuter clinic providing services to low-income families in underserved areas, and it was some of the most rewarding work I have done.

I developed an interest and passion for end-of-life care after "hospicing" both of my parents. Through that process, I came to understand what a rare gift veterinarians have to be able to alleviate end-of-life suffering for animals humanely and with dignity. The last kind thing we can do for our devoted companions, who love us unconditionally, is to ease their suffering gently in a comfortable place with the people they love. It is an honor and a privilege to do this work.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband—we met in vet school and have been married for more than 30 years—and our three adult children. I am an avid reader and love hiking, knitting, being outside, landscaping my tiny urban yard into a pollinator haven, and—my newest hobby—beekeeping with my husband.