Laura joined the Southside team in March of 2024.  Laura grew up in north central Indiana and moved to East Tennessee as a young adult.  Relocating to the Kansas City area from East Tennessee in early 2020, with her husband and two young boys, Laura was excited to join the veterinary field again after being a stay at home mom for six years.  

The love of animals was obvious from a young age as Laura was often outside 'taming' the colony of barn cats and their kittens at her babysitter's house.  Laura began volunteering at her local veterinary clinic in Indiana in her early teens and learned skills for large and small animals through high school.  During the summers between her years in college she was a zookeeper at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo where everyday was an adventure!  Laura helped care for and learn husbandry for many species of animals from American Alligators to African Penguins to Red Pandas and more.  Additionally, while there Laura was responsible for training Vincent, a vulture, as well as a brother and sister Bobcat pair named Juan and Evita.  

After moving to East Tennessee, Laura began working as a veterinary assistant and enjoyed days off as a white water raft guide on the Ocoee River.  Through the years Laura's knowledge grew and skills improved, and she has worked as a veterinary technician in small animal general medicine and emergency, for more than a decade.  

When not at work, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and young boys, and her red ticked Beagle, Walter.  Laura also enjoys baking and cookie and cake decorating, birding, and gardening.