Bottle feeding baby squirrels, sitting with recovering surgery patients and playing with her family’s many cats, dogs, goats, chickens, turkeys and horses was how Laurel spent her childhood. Her father was one of the first small animal veterinarians in the United States to become accredited in Veterinary Acupuncture in 1975.
A graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (1989), Dr. Laurel also holds a BS in Biology from Hiram College in Ohio.
Dr. Laurel started her practice as Asheville Veterinary House Calls in 1996 with the primary goal of offering gentle conventional and holistic veterinary care and examining each animal companion in their home environment.
Her growing interest in holistic medicine inspired her to attend courses in Applied Kinesiology, Pranic Healing, Craniosacral Therapy, N.A.E.T. allergy elimination technique, chiropractic care and acupuncture. She also discovered in herself something beyond her training and experience as a licensed and qualified veterinarian. Her intuitive connection with the companion animals she treated grew and matured, and her practice evolved to include this unique gift.
In 2003, she decided to focus her energy in an office, Sunvet Animal Wellness Clinic, so she could devote more time to being with each animal, acknowledging their individual needs and their connectedness to their human family.
Laurel loves running, hiking, camping, flower gardening, ponds, reading, witnessing her daughter’s wisdom, and sun- in any form.
She shares her home with her 15 year old Siamese mix, Bee, and sweet memories of her dearly departed Gracie, a Lhasa Apso.
When asked what she loves about her work, Dr. Laurel says this:
“I love the novelty of every heart-centered moment I spend with my patients and their people. While I was practicing solely conventional veterinary medicine, I always felt there was something missing from my veterinary ‘tool box’. Now, with applied kinesiology and the other holistic modalities I have learned, I can dig deeper and embrace the uniqueness of every individual who walks through the door.
No two animals, even animals with the same clinical signs or disease states, should be treated the same way. When I look with a broader vision, chances are I can get to the root of the matter and come closer to discovering a cure. I love the challenge and the reward of helping my patients! ”
Meet My Alter Ego
My inner Mountain Lion comes out to play: “Ha….yes, here I am, having just taken my dust bath writhing around, shake it off, perch in the sun after the dark time, mmmm…warm so alive, so vibrant and orange, soooo exquisite. Breezes caress, ruffling hair and whiskers and then, the movement all around. Bringing…rabbit.”