Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Veterinary medicine, Hospice care |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Dr. Dani McVety |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | 37 states, United States |
Key people | Dr. Dani McVety, Dr. Mary Gardner |
Number of employees | 350+ |
| Website | lapoflove |
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice is a pioneering family-oriented veterinary hospice and in-home animal euthanasia provider, acknowledged as the inaugural organized service of its type within the United States. The organization operates across 37 states, employing more than 350 veterinarians, and holds membership in the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care.
History
Established in 2009 by Dr. Dani McVety, an alumna of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Lap of Love was created in response to the increasing need for veterinary end-of-life care delivered in patients' homes. Dr. McVety collaborated with fellow University of Florida graduate Dr. Mary Gardner to design a replicable framework for pet hospice and euthanasia services provided at home. The company was officially incorporated in 2011 and began expanding through franchising in 2012.
In recognition of its innovative approach within veterinary hospice care, Lap of Love was honored in 2015 with the University of Florida Entrepreneurship Award from the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Services
Lap of Love veterinarians focus on caring for geriatric and terminally ill animals by offering hospice and palliative care via both telephone and home visits. Their care emphasizes management of appetite, hydration, mobility, wound treatment, and pain relief. The organization also maintains an online Pet Hospice Journal that includes a quality of life assessment tool and a daily health tracking diary. For pets whose natural passing is not imminent but whose quality of life has deteriorated, owners can opt for at-home euthanasia services, with Lap of Love coordinating burial or cremation arrangements.
Founders McVety and Gardner have developed educational seminars and video content addressing the human-animal connection and compassionate veterinary practices, presenting their work at national forums such as the 2012 North American Veterinary Conference.