Meet Our Family:

 My journey and love of pets pretty much began at birth.  In 2009 my dream of becoming a veterinarian became a reality! I graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The following year I did a rotating small animal internship at a busy emergency & specialty hospital in northern Virginia. After completing my internship, I worked in both general practice and emergency medicine. All of these professional experiences allowed me to explore who I wanted to be as a veterinarian and what I was most passionate about. I gained a deep appreciation for preventative care, which would later be one of the driving forces for me to begin my eastern medicine training.  

 In 2015 I discovered that veterinarians were practicing exclusive hospice & palliative care and almost instantly I knew I had found my calling. Being able to be a part of a pet’s end of life journey sounded incredibly special and I knew I wanted to join this group of veterinarians. For the last 7 years I have practiced exclusive hospice & palliative care and I am confident that I am doing exactly what I was meant to do. The ability to support pet families through one of the hardest decisions that they will make throughout their life is a responsibility that I take very seriously and hold dear to my heart.  

 Dr. Valerie grew up in Idaho where she always dreamed of on day becoming a veterinarian. She went to undergrad for neuroscience and veterinary school at Washington State University. Once in practice, Dr. Valerie realized general practice wasn't for her. Instead, she had a passion for helping the community through high volume spay and neuter services and by helping families say goodbye to their loved ones. Being able to help pets and families not experience the suffering so often seen at end of life and making those last moments as peaceful as possible is Dr. Valerie's passion for end-of-life care. Dr. Valerie has practiced in Idaho, Oregon, and Texas. She moved to Virginia to be closer to family. In her time away from work she enjoys spending time with her family including her husband; son Wyatt; two border collies Roper and Bear; three cats Buggles, Temy, and Pearly; and hedgehog Mr. Pickles. She enjoys being out in nature exploring, hiking, fishing, gardening, and baking. Thank you so much for the privilege of allowing me to help your family during this difficult time of need.  

Dr. Jessie was raised in Williamsburg, Virginia.  As a child, her passion for animal wellbeing and care blossomed during summer vacations to volunteer at Richmond Animal League and, later, the Loving Spay + Neuter Clinic.  She earned her bachelor's degree, with a Biology Major and Psychology Minor, from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010.  After college, she worked as an assistant at Prevent-A-Litter in Richmond while helping to care for her ailing maternal grandmother, Annie.  This combined experience crystallized the passion for both veterinary medicine and end-of-life hospice care for Dr. Jessie and her sisters, who also entered medical professions.  

Dr. Jessie graduated from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, VA in 2016.  She then served for four years in the US Army as a Veterinary Corps Officer where she was bestowed the honor of engaging with the powerful, majestic, and spirited Military Working Dogs.  While she enjoyed providing medical and surgical care to many patients every day during her subsequent four years of General Practice, Dr. Jessie always yearned for more time to devote to her patients and their families, while maintaining a stable work-life balance.  Dr. Jessie explored the option of entering the field of In-Home Hospice Care and was blessed to become a member of the collaborative and compassionate Angel Pets team in early 2025.

The grief associated with the sudden loss of the dog she grew up with, the brown-and-tan Chihuahua Tyson (pictured in the middle above), still lingers from time to time.  The memory of his personality represents all the qualities she wants to foster in herself!  Her partner, Travis, and their two Beagle-Jack Russell mix canine brothers, Baxter and Croix, have happily transitioned from the rough Ohio winters and enjoy spending time enjoying our gorgeous Peninsula.  They enjoy taking long walks at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens with the dogs almost every Sunday, admiring Greenie, Penny, and Big Mamma - the stunning sea turtles of the Virginia Aquarium, and kayaking in the Bay.  In her free time, Dr. Jessie also likes to crochet and is trying to learn how to make sourdough bread!  While we equally support the Buckeyes and the Hokies and visit Ohio regularly, we are proud to call Norfolk, VA our forever home. 

 Jenna is in her last semester at the University of Maryland earning her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. She spent her younger years growing up on a farm and since then has always had a deep love and passion for animals of all kinds. She is Dr. Melissa's little sister and is thrilled to work along side her where she is able to assist people and animals in their time of need and transition. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and close friends and teaching group fitness classes for her community.  

 I am originally from NY/NJ but have been living in the Hampton roads area for over 18 years. While the majority of my career consists of work in the human medical field I have always had a passion for animals. I have hands on experience with all kinds of animals from farm to exotics. I’m a huge advocate for bully breeds and rescuing pets.    In my free time you can find me spending it with my husband,daughter and son. Along with them we have our menagerie which consists of 2 horses (Bing and Wish), our 4 rescue pups (Rico,Gemma,benji,and Loki), and our sphynx cat Milo.