About Us

Growing up an only child in an overworked single parent household can be difficult on both the child and the parent. Fortunately, my mom had a love of animals and there was always a dog and cat (or some variety thereof) around the home. Over the years, these wonderful creatures provided the companionship, love and an unwavering loyalty that I can only hope I was able to reciprocate. It was the memory of these lost childhood companions that helped me realize I wanted to become a veterinarian.

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I graduated from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, followed by the completion of a small animal internship in Connecticut. After my internship I worked as an ER veterinarian in Pennsylvania before moving back to the Pacific Northwest in 2010. Up until recently I had continued working as an ER veterinarian, and in the fall of 2013 I started working part time for a company that provided in-home veterinary hospice and euthanasia services to the greater Seattle area.

Working as an ER veterinarian I had helped many families say goodbye to their beloved family members and being able to offer this service in the comfort of one’s home was not only an important step but a very rewarding one. From this experience comes Gentle Hands Cherished Paws in-home veterinary hospice & end of life care services and it is an honor to be entrusted with such an emotional and heartfelt life event.

Growing up in Southern Arizona, we had a plethora of dogs, from dachshunds, to border collies, to German shepherds. From a youth, I was taught to respect and care for our pets as if they were our children, and that premise has followed me through life. I knew by the age of six that I wanted to care of animals through being their doctor and pursued that dream, which took me to the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

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After gaining my Bachelor of Science at University of Arizona, I obtained my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Oregon State University in 2009. I moved to the greater Seattle area and have spent the past years in general practice caring for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, pocket pets, and reptiles. During this time, I have found great purpose in helping families care for their loved ones, and especially in keeping them comfortable from youth until it was time to say goodbye. The trust placed in me to help these same families say goodbye to their beloved family members in a peaceful way is humbling and has driven me to continue this in the comfort of their homes.

My love for animals started at a young age. I grew up in Western Australia, and spent most of my childhood running around outside with my border collie, Jessie, beside me. I developed a strong appreciation for the special bond of friendship and family that exists between people and their pets.

My interests in animals, the human-animal connection, and science, led me to pursue veterinary medicine. After graduating from veterinary school in Australia, I moved to the Pacific Northwest, where I worked as a general veterinary practitioner for a number of years.

In general practice, I really enjoyed working with geriatric animals and their families. It is so rewarding to make a positive impact on these pet’s quality of life, and to ensure they are able to lead enriched and comfortable lives until the very end. From these experiences, I decided to make this aspect of veterinary care my focus.

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Saying goodbye to our pets is one of the hardest things we have to do. As a veterinarian, I believe that being able to provide our furry family members with a peaceful and dignified passing, in the comfort of their own home, is one of the best gifts we can give them. I feel honored and privileged to be able to guide families through the end of life process, while providing their loved ones with the peaceful and loving goodbye they deserve.

A lifelong animal lover and caregiver, becoming a veterinary technician was not only a natural progression for my life, but my calling.  I received an associates degree of animal technology at the Bel Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver, CO and after spending almost a decade in speciality hospitals, began working exclusively in end of life care. I love how much a senior pet has to teach us- resilience in the face of hardship, the way life comes full circle, and the importance of living in the moment.  Animals have made me better and I am honored to repay that by helping them during their final journey and supporting their families.

To my own surprise, I grew up in a household with no pets, only to end up embracing animal care in nearly every aspect of my adult life. Since moving in with my partner’s previously-stray love-bug of a cat, owning a few rambunctious rodents myself, watching my father buy a farm and furnishing it with fat hens, and taking up a dog-walking & pet-sitting job during the pandemic to connect with more animals and the world around me, I’ve been happier and more honored than ever to be able to help care for our companions for even a fraction of how they care for us!

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I’m passionate about transparency, accessibility, and taking the extra time to do things the right way, which is why I’m so glad to be working with this crew. Having experienced my own physical and emotional hardships and helped many loved ones through similar struggles, I truly believe in the human ability to bring goodness to others, even in the hardest times.