In-Home Pet Euthanasia in Seattle & Surrounding Areas

I was born in Alaska, but I have lived in multiple states throughout the US. I chose to settle in the Pacific Northwest because of the beautiful scenery and easily accessible outdoor activities. I also love the rain, though I enjoy some sun when it comes out. I was a vet assistant for many years before deciding to go to vet school at Oregon State University and, while in school, I traveled to Nicaragua to help care for pets in a village on a small island. This was an amazing experience and gave me a greater appreciation for the bond we share with our pets. After graduation from vet school, I completed a rotating small animal internship at a specialty hospital. 

Veterinary work fulfills me because at the end of the day, no matter what, I get to say that I spend my life helping animals and the families who love them. I have worked in shelter medicine, general practices, eastern/alternative medicine practices, and emergency medicine throughout my career. During the years, I’ve realized that my passion is hospice and palliative care. I love older animals and knowing that they have provided a lifetime of love to their families. I love the challenge of trying to make their lives easier in whatever ways I can, whether that be pain control, creative feeding, adapting the living environment, or walk assistive devices and guidance. I’m grateful for the ability to help where I can, especially when the time comes to help a beloved pet pass peacefully and painlessly. I believe that a peaceful passing at home, surrounded by loving family, is the best last gift we can give to our pets. I have shared my life with many animals and have had to say goodbye to many of them. I know what a special bond our pets have with us and how important it is to make that final memory as special as possible. 

In my free time I enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking, traveling, and hanging out with my cats. My hobby goals are to start quilting and learn more about permaculture gardening. 

Pronouns: She/Her

I grew up in Forks, Washington, which is a small town on the Olympic Peninsula, and spent my days exploring the forest and playing with my siblings, dogs, cats, and—after unintentionally getting a pregnant female—a whole lot of hamsters. 

I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was six years old. I shadowed local veterinarians and did every pre-veterinary activity I could find. I loved animals and science, and like so many of my colleagues in this profession, found veterinary medicine to be the perfect combination of the two. As I grew older I learned that I also had a passion for helping people, and that veterinary medicine would allow me to help people by helping their pets. I completed undergraduate courses and veterinary school at Washington State University, and received early admittance to veterinary school through their honors program. 

Shortly before I started veterinary school, my family dog passed away from cancer. He was granted extra quality time through palliative care, but his last day was not the peaceful transition I had hoped for. In a rural area, on a Sunday evening, our access to care was very limited. I knew at that point that I would not want anyone else to go through this difficult experience. 

While in veterinary school, I provided nursing care to an elderly cocker spaniel with heart failure. Her owner worked from home, but she couldn't focus on her job when she was worried about her pet, so she hired me to be her dog’s caretaker. This gave me my first glimpse into hospice and palliative care before I even knew it had a name. I was able to give someone peace of mind through non-judgemental, compassionate nursing care. 

After graduation, my family moved to Wisconsin, where I worked in shelter medicine and general practice. While in practice, I discovered my passion for end-of-life care and knew that was my calling. My desire to be closer to family prompted us to return to Washington, and allowed me to fulfill that calling by joining Lap of Love. To be able to take what can be a very terrible time for a family and make it a little less difficult through compassionate, gentle care is extremely fulfilling. I believe that euthanasia is a gift we can give animals to help them pass peacefully. 

Outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy spending time outdoors and with my family of three active boys, a crazy dog, and a particular cat. I enjoy cooking, baking, and crafting. 

I grew up in rural New Hampshire with a wide array of pets, including the typical dogs and cats, as well as ferrets, snakes, birds, and more. I always knew I wanted to care for animals. I completed my undergraduate education at Plymouth State University in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire, and I received my veterinary degree from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. 

When it was time to say goodbye to our family dog when I was 14 years old, it was a stressful situation for everyone involved. Our big boy, who weighed more than 130 pounds, rarely left our large rural property and was wary of strangers. He was afraid of the veterinarian, and the veterinarian was equally cautious of him. I learned valuable lessons about compassion, patience, and love that day, and have used that experience to help provide other furry family members with a peaceful passing, with as little stress as possible. 

My husband’s work has moved us around the country, from Massachusetts, to Texas, to California, and now to beautiful Washington state! We share our home with Luna, our crazy Texas Blue Lacy dog. We also have a sweet rescue mutt, aptly named Jinx, due to his long list of medical problems. Surprisingly, he is our first foster failure after fostering more than 70 puppies and kittens (and one hospice chinchilla) over a five-year period. As rescues, both dogs have a bit of fear and anxiety related to certain things, which inspired me to become trained as a Fear Free Certified Veterinarian. 

I love the beautiful forests and greenery in the Pacific Northwest, and have especially enjoyed exploring the local city, state, and national parks in this stunning state. I have always appreciated the outdoors and exploring all that nature has to share. In my free time, I like to garden, hike, travel, and spend time outdoors with our dogs. I have been fortunate to visit many of the great national parks, and our travels have sparked an interest in photography. Some of our favorite places have been Ban and Jasper National Parks in Canada, Bryce Canyon in Utah, and the breathtaking coastlines of Hawaii.

A true Washingtonian, I was born and raised in Spokane. I grew up surrounded by a wonderful and supportive family full of human physicians, but my parents and siblings knew I would deviate from the rest of the family and follow the path to veterinary medicine long before I did. Of course, between my life-long obsession with animals and science, it was not such a difficult conclusion to reach. 

I first moved to the Seattle area to attend the University of Washington, where I received my bachelor’s degree in physiology before crossing enemy lines to study at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After receiving my veterinary degree, I returned home to the Seattle area and practiced veterinary medicine in the clinical setting for eight years—Washington is far too beautiful to ever leave! 

My attention first turned to end-of-life care while acting as the primary care-taker for my father, who sadly passed of cancer a few years ago. During that experience, I recognized the importance of support from palliative care providers and found myself taking note of all the ways human providers offered care to their patients and the families who loved them. I also found myself noticing ways that care could be improved. As a veterinarian, I have the unique ability to offer this support, take away pain, and provide peace for an animal and their family. I feel so honored to be able to offer this service in a setting where my patients and their loved ones feel most at home and comfortable. 

In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, cooking with my husband, Vrajesh, hiking and backpacking with my eleven-year-old Springer Spaniel, Jasper—who constantly reminds me that old arthritic joints are no reason to miss out on climbing mountains—and generally being bossed around by my fifteen-year-old tuxedo kitty, Luciano, the undisputed ruler of the house. 

I'm originally from New Jersey, but I now call Seattle home. Although my family still lives on the east coast, I cannot imagine living anywhere but Seattle. 

I have always loved animals, and I can't remember a time when I did not want to be a veterinarian. While growing up, my family always had at least two cats in our home—and this still holds true for me today. One of our family cats had diabetes, and I learned to give insulin injections at a young age. 

I earned an animal science degree from Clemson University and then attended veterinary school at the University of Tennessee. I became a huge college football fan while living in the south! After veterinary school, I completed a one-year rotating internship, and then moved to Seattle to start my career as an emergency veterinarian. I enjoyed working in emergency medicine for many years before transitioning to end-of-life care. 

During my time in emergency medicine, I had many hard conversations with pet parents about hospice care and euthanasia in stressful environments. Being able to have those conversations in the privacy and comfort of their own home is much better for pet owners and pets. 

When I am not working, I love exploring Seattle—especially its outdoor spaces—with my husband, rescue dog, and COVID puppy.

I grew up in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee—a once-small town that has grown to be a fairly large suburb of Nashville. I have wanted to be a veterinarian since the age of 5, and never changed my mind. I was able to shadow a local veterinarian during middle and high school, and I found providing healthcare for animals inspiring—I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

I completed my undergraduate studies and veterinary school at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After graduating, I moved to Eagle, Colorado to practice small-town mixed animal medicine. I mainly focused on dogs, cats, and pocket pets and I quickly gained experience in every aspect of medicine, including emergency, internal medicine, oncology, dentistry, and surgery. The practice provided mobile services to local clients, and most of the house-call appointments I saw were for hospice and euthanasia. I came to respect this service, and I believe that every pet deserves to spend their final moments in the peace and comfort of their own home if possible. 

Our family’s outdoor cat, OJ, was about 15 years old when I came home for a visit and felt a mass in his abdomen. He had lost a significant amount of weight and muscle mass and was barely able to get around. OJ was terrified of riding in the car, and although he passed peacefully with the help of the wonderful veterinary team at our local clinic, I wish we had been able to help him pass in our backyard where he was most comfortable. 

Walking alongside a family as we escort their beloved pet over life’s threshold with respect and dignity is a unique honor and a privilege. I believe that retaining the quality of the human-animal bond throughout all aspects of end-of-life care is such an important part of helping families show love and affection to their pet in those final days. 

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and skiing with friends and my dog, Reese. I play the violin/fiddle and enjoyed playing gigs with a local bluegrass band as well as local church services during my time in Colorado. My significant other, Nick, and I enjoy cooking (and eating) meals we create together, and traveling to new places to experience different cultures and meet new friends.