About Eternal Pawprints

Why We do this...

Why we do this...

Death is a part of life – it’s inevitable. At Eternal Pawprints we strive to make this process as easy and peaceful as we can for you and your pet. So that they can pass on with the dignity and grace that your furry family member and you deserve. 

We will all reach a point where there is nothing left to do, there is no fix, and quality of life for our pet will be poor. Our pets will be too sick for them to recover and they will be in the dying process. We know that this process is RARELY swift or peaceful. It can linger for days, weeks, and they suffer through it. But we can make that easier for them.

Eternal Pawprints Veterinary Hospice Whippet patient
Veterinary hospice...

Veterinary hospice provides end-of-life care to keep your pet comfortable until their passing. With us, euthanasia is saying goodbye to your pet in the comfort of home with little to no stress, is the best thing for everyone involved. In fact, it is the greatest act of unconditional love.

It's a calling ...

This is why we do this! It is a calling and an honor to help each family. Without a doubt, this is the most fulfilling work we are doing. It is our privilege to be there for you so that you can grieve and heal.

quality of life assessment
Veterinary Hospice and Euthanasia

Dr. Shannon

I was born and raised in Arizona. Even though it’s a lot of desert, I fell in love with all the wildlife and domestic animals I encountered. In fact, I found them and their way of life very fascinating at an early age. I remember my parents taking me on trips to zoos, aquariums, farms, and national parks. There, I was always looking for the animals; wanting to learn more.
It was at this young age I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. My interest in animals has taken me across the country. I graduated with my Bachelor’s from the University of Arizona (GO CATS!) and headed to Orlando, Florida to work as a Marine Mammal Intern at The Seas, EPCOT at Walt Disney World. I had my sights set on becoming a marine mammal veterinarian at the time. After that, I worked as a veterinary technician while taking conservation biology classes. Always working to get into veterinary school.

When I found my calling...

In 2011, I graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Following this, I went into small animal practice and stayed in Florida for two years. There, I participated in our house call service which included in-home euthanasias. I know what it’s like leaving my own cat of 17 years at my vet’s clinic to say goodbye. It was a horrible feeling. For this reason, I wanted to provide this service in the home where the whole family is comfortable.
In 2013, I moved to New Jersey to be closer to my husband’s family. I started Lap of Love in New Jersey part-time while working in general practice. In 2016, I left general practice to pursue end-of-life care full time. I was with Lap of Love for six years before moving to Maryland. There, I started Eternal Pawprints Veterinary Hospice in 2020. In 2022, I completed my certification with the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) to better hone my end of life skills and to be able to spread my knowledge to my veterinary colleagues. I am now a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian (CPEV). I love providing end-of-life care! I know I am making a difference and fulfilling my call as a veterinarian by helping our pets in their last days.

Your pets, our family.

It is an honor and a privilege  to help you and your pet through this transition of life and death. At Eternal Pawprints, we are dedicated to making this process as easy as possible.

Cat rubbing up on dog Eternal Pawprints