In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Greater Richmond Area

I grew up in Cincinnati, OH, where I asserted that I would one day be a veterinarian from as early as I can remember. Most of my childhood memories involve animals in some capacity, and a Golden Retriever named Bailey was considered a sibling growing up. My early comfort with end of life care is likely associated with being raised by a mother who worked as a Bereavement Coordinator in Pediatric Hospice. To no one’s surprise, I pursued a degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences and I received my Bachelors from Clemson University in South Carolina (Go Tigers!). Just weeks before I continued on to veterinary school, Bailey let us know that he was ready for his wings. Within the comfort and peace of our own home, we were able to let Bailey pass in a painless and loving way.

I continued the trek south for my doctorate, attending the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating there, I moved to Richmond, VA for a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship at a busy specialty hospital. It was during numerous emergency shifts that I was repeatedly reminded of my passion for helping pets and families with end of life care. My desire to gift families with the same experience that my own had with Bailey is what moved me to join Lap of Love. It is a gift and honor to be able to help ease suffering and provide comfort to pets and the humans that love them. 

I grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, so I spent a lot of time in the sun.  My family had a dog, a hamster, and lots of goldfish, and my mom says I was 6 years old when I first declared I was going to be a veterinarian. I never considered any other career.

I attended several colleges during my undergraduate years—University of Florida, James Madison University, and Old Dominion University—and earned my veterinary degree from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. 

I developed a passion for surgery—I spent 75% of my first 10 years in practice performing surgery, and 100% of the next 10 years. I owned and operated a local affordable advanced surgery and dental care hospital, which I sold in 2020. I spent the next two years providing veterinary telehealth services, and I am happy to return to hands-on veterinary care. 

I have lost several pets over the years, and each has added something special to my life. I strongly believe we are meant to have several pets throughout our lives, because we have so much to learn from each one. 

Being able to relieve suffering is a gift only afforded to veterinarians and when it is the right time, it is the ultimate gift of love. The moment you say goodbye to your pet should be private, quiet, and as comfortable as possible, and there is no more perfect place than home. As difficult as it is, I believe an at-home euthanasia is the kindest act of love. 

When I am not working, I love going for walks, driving with the top down, traveling as often as I can, and exploring new places with my family. I am an avid reader, and I typically read one to three books a week.

An entry in my journal from second grade reads, "When I grow up I want to be a ‘veterinarian,” and I’m living my childhood dream. I grew up in Yorktown, Virginia, and when I was in 6th grade I spent several weeks shadowing my mother's cousin and his wife, who were both veterinarians at a hospital in New York. I watched some incredible procedures, learned so much, and couldn’t wait to practice veterinary medicine myself. I went back to that veterinary hospital every summer for years, first shadowing, then working full-time during my college summer breaks. 

I earned my bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Tech (go Hokies!) before attending the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada, where I received my veterinary degree. I fell in love with the land of Anne of Green Gables—and my husband, who I met in veterinary school. 

After graduation, I worked in emergency veterinary medicine in Canada. I enjoyed providing exceptional personalized care to animals and supporting their owners during times of high stress and emotion. While working in emergency medicine, I became passionate about quality end-of-life care. Every pet deserves the dignity to go peacefully. Clients often have fears surrounding end-of-life care for their pet, and I can help ease their minds by making the process as peaceful as possible. When I lost my childhood cat, Jenny-Any-Dots, our family veterinarian came outside of his working hours and gently facilitated her passing. What he did was above and beyond and taught me that every family’s relationship with their pet is so unique, and therefore each situation must be personalized to fit the family and their beloved pet. This is what I strive to do in my role at Lap of Love. 

Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, baking—one of my proudest moments was making macarons from scratch—and traveling. My husband and I are planning to go to Italy next May!