Hello there, and thank you for stopping by. Like you, I am a devoted pet parent who deeply understands the bonds we share with our furry family members.

When my pets have needed me, I’ve always strived to provide the best care possible—from selecting the healthiest foods to finding the most skilled and compassionate veterinary care. Along the way, I've learned the importance of specialized support, whether I've needed sitters for my ill and aging pets, therapeutic massage to ease my dogs' discomfort, or even animal communicators to understand my sometimes confusing kitty's messages better.

Most likely, you're here because you are in the throes of your beloved's terminal diagnosis or a health decline. I've been there many times before. I get it. I'm a lifelong animal lover, so I've lost track of how many cats and dogs I've personally cared for. I've supported over a hundred families to find their way through the complexities of solo caregiving or complicated family dynamics. I know how heartbreaking the journey can be for us all as our beloved companions approach their final days.

Through the AHELP Project, I bring together all I have learned from the beautiful animals and remarkable families I've had the honor to assist. These experiences have taught me invaluable lessons about living, dying, and the power of being surrounded by a supportive team.

I am here to serve as I share these lessons with you, offering the comfort and care needed as you navigate this tender time with your pet.

This is my story…

My journey into animal hospice became intensely personal when my beloved Boxer, Brodie, faced the end of his life. Under the guidance of my human hospice nurse mother Carol Soukup, RN, I chose to embrace hospice principles, allowing Brodie a peaceful passing at home and surrounded by love. This experience was a revelation as I realized that I had been providing hospice care without even knowing it. Sharing stories of Brodie’s life and gazing at him lying in state peacefully, we asked ourselves the next morning, “Where are all the animal hospice people?” 

Brodie, 2008

After over 6 years of nursing Brodie to treat his congenital heart disease, our Brodie was at rest at the age of 10. My husband, mother, and 6-year-old were pleasantly surprised but relieved that we were at peace, too. Driven by this profound experience, I started networking until I found my people, mentored with veterinarians, and immersed myself in the nascent animal hospice and palliative care movement.

After a master's degree and a career in professional healthcare counseling, I recognized I could utilize the tools in my toolbox to educate and support caregivers, working alongside veterinary medical teams through an interdisciplinary approach. I began my first caregiver support business, "Partners to the Bridge," and soon after that, our group co-founded the AHELP Project to serve more families through a nonprofit model.

I took on leadership roles within the groundbreaking International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, including serving as their President in 2019. My conference presentations advocated the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and showcased how the nonprofit model can effectively support more families through their pets' end-of-life journeys. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, I saw an opportunity for online animal hospice education to address the scarcity of readily accessible veterinary services. I co-founded Animal Hospice Group with three thought leaders to build animal hospice education and hands-on training for people of all backgrounds, culminating in the Certified Animal Hospice Practitioner (CAHP) title. I remain on their faculty, and recognizing the need to produce the next generation of leaders in our field, I teach and mentor allied practitioners who support people and their pets.

At the time of this writing, we are approaching AHELP's 15th year. I return to our grassroots mission to realize my life's vision: for every animal lover to have ready access to animal hospice, understand their options, and find the path to achieve the goals they visualize for their pet and their family. After years of refinement in response to caregivers' needs, I proudly offer “Partners to the Bridge" Animal Hospice Coaching for Pet Parents in greater Seattle, which is adaptable online to anyone anywhere in the United States. 

I share my life with my spouse of 27 years, my 18-year-old daughter, and two Boston Terriers. Sailing on the Puget Sound is our favorite family pastime, and I am passionate about riding horses. My other special interest is animal-assisted therapy, and I volunteer with my Boston Terrier, Bunny, at Seattle Children's Hospital and a local Human Hospice Inpatient Center. 

I look forward to meeting you very soon. 

Professional Experience and Education:

Founder, AHELP Project

Co-Founder, Animal Hospice Group

Co-author, Certified Animal Hospice Practitioner Certification (Animal Hospice Group)

President, International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care

Director, Cancer Genetics Department (Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Carmichael CA)

Pediatric Genetic Counselor (Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento CA)

Prenatal Genetic Counselor (Prenatal Diagnosis of Northern California, Sacramento CA)

Masters of Science, Human Genetics and Counseling Psychology (Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University)

Presentations:

"Build your Animal Hospice Team" at the 1st Annual Conference of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (Ft Worth TX, 2011)

"The Interdisciplinary Teamwork Model: How's that working for you?" at the 8th Annual Conference of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (Seattle, 2017)

"Employing the Nonprofit Model for Delivery of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Services" at the 10th Annual Conference of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (Chicago, 2019)