Dr Smith has always been drawn to animals. As soon as she knew what a veterinarian was, she decided that was what she was going to be and has spent her entire life caring for pets and their emotional and physical well being. She started working in the animal care field in 1988 with animal shelters, rescues and dog boarding/training facilities. In 1993, she began working in veterinary clinics and then graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.
After graduation, Dr Smith worked in private practice for over 20 years. She was an early proponent of the Fear Free movement and worked hard to provide Fear Free visits to her beloved patients, allowing them to enjoy their experiences at the vet. Her medical special interests included soft tissue surgery, dentistry, positive reinforcement behavior therapy, and senior care and pain control. Dr Smith retired from general veterinary practice a year or two ago to slow down a bit and try some of that work/life balance we all hear so much about, but found it left her with a little too much time on her hands! With a desire to continue to help the people and pets of Grand Rapids and surrounding areas, she joined Heaven at Home in May of 2024. She believes a peaceful end to a life well-lived, surrounded by their loved ones in a positive, familiar environment is truly a gift we can give to our pets. It is always sad and always hard, but can also be beautiful in its own way, as we selflessly release our friend from their suffering. She is honored to be able to help families provide this for their cherished companions.
In her free time, you’ll find Dr Smith hiking or playing with her rescued Aussie, Scotty, snuggling her kitties, Pattie and Henry, binge watching the latest good show, working in the garden, or spending time at the barn, trail or camp with her three horses: Cruise, Magic and Pico.