Compassionate
Care. Peaceful Goodbyes.

Our Doctors

Dr Annie Dion-Bryd

Becoming a veterinarian has been my lifelong dream since I was about seven years old. I was fortunate to have three close neighbors who were veterinarians in different specialties. Throughout my childhood, I volunteered at our local humane society and at a local farm sanctuary, assisted farmers in caring for their animals, and worked at a family-owned pet store. After that, I became a veterinary technician and spent several years working in small animal veterinary hospitals.

I earned my degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Montréal in Québec, Canada, in 2005. After graduating, I relocated to Florida where I worked in small animal hospitals for a little over a decade. I have thoroughly enjoyed caring for pets and helping them feel better every day.

In 2013, I began working in end-of-life care, assisting families in saying goodbye to their beloved pets in the comfort of their own homes. I feel privileged to support both pets and their families and I consider it a blessing to help relieve a pet's suffering. I believe that, like most of us, pets appreciate the opportunity to pass peacefully, free from pain, and surrounded by their loved ones in the familiar setting of their home.

Lastly, I am a proud member of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, and I am Fear Free certified veterinarian. I also completed the CAETA Peaceful Euthanasia Certification program so I can ensure that our entire team at Loving Arms follows these best practices.

Dr. Stacy Blake

I was born and raised in Decatur, IL, the “Soybean Capital of the World.” One of my fondest childhood memories is from my eleventh birthday, when a gray kitten wearing a pink bow jumped out of a box and into my heart. Being my first pet cat, Hilary (named after a character on “All My Children” in the 80s was a gift that would pave my road to veterinary medicine. Throughout the years, she gave me comfort and made me laugh. I couldn’t imagine life without her. I’d always loved animals, but I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I “grew up.” Then one day, I honestly had one of those “aha moments” while standing in a pet store at the local mall. I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to caring for animals!

While in veterinary school at the University of Illinois, I gained experience with horses, cows, pigs, and goats; however, cats and dogs remained my favorites. I graduated with my DVM degree in 1999, and could not wait to escape the cold Midwestern winters to start my career in sunny Orlando, FL. Of course, Hilary moved along with me. She was beginning to show signs of her advancing age. A few years later, while battling several chronic illnesses, I could see a decline in her quality of life, and I knew it was time to say “goodbye”. I loved Hilary for 18 years, and she taught me first-hand the strength of the human-animal bond.

I have worked in small-animal, general practice for over fifteen years now, and I enjoy seeing excited “new parents” with puppies & kittens. However, I find the challenges of caring for older companion animals to be much more rewarding. I have such respect for my aging patients, and I have had the privilege of seeing many of them through their entire lives. Our pets are living longer, and I strive to make their “golden years” the best they can be. And when the time comes, I want to make the end-of-life process less stressful and more peaceful for these beloved animals.

Dr. Amanda Buerk

As a child, animals always had a special place in my heart. From my first dog, a Newfoundland named Nantucket, who was my shadow, my friend and protector as I grew, to the Polish street dog, Dexter, who chose to stay with me during my stint as a Peace Corps Volunteer and came home with me to the states - I have always known that animals would play an essential role in my life, my family, and my career.

I first started my veterinary journey as a veterinary technician in Denver, Colorado. I quickly realized that veterinary medicine was my calling, and I began working toward my goal of becoming a veterinarian. I was accepted to Ross University, and I completed my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. I followed up my studies with an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City.

Following my internship, I moved to North Carolina. I started working in general practice for the next 7 years, treating many wonderful dogs and cats. During that time, I shared in the joy my clients experienced with their new puppy or kitten, but I spent many sleepless nights worrying about the ones that were sick. My heart wept as I helped my clients say goodbye to their beloved pets, and I understood what a privilege it is to help guide families through such difficult moments.

It is truly my honor to provide support, care, and comfort for families and their beloved pets through Loving Arms.

Dr. Matt Renaker

The day my parents brought me home from the hospital for the very first time, the first thing my dad did was to lay me down next to our family dog, Chief. For years after, Chief and I shared many boyhood adventures and even shared the doghouse from time to time when I was in trouble. Chief taught me many things about the special relationship that makes an “animal” a companion. Losing him was my first experience with the loss of a cherished companion. I remember my dad comforting me, knowing the right things to say as a dad should.

In 2008, I graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Throughout my career as a veterinarian, I have been faced with numerous end-of-life decisions, both at work and in my personal life, as my beloved pets have come and gone. Each experience helps me to understand better what my dad started all those years ago. I aspire to pass along some of these comforting words to those who have these special companions as part of their lives. End-of-life decisions can be very emotional, but we have the opportunity to show genuine compassion when our pets need it most and provide them with a peaceful transition, honoring their memory.

I hope that each person who experiences this loss knows that our sympathies are with them. “Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.”

Dr. Maite “Mimi” Pintado

Here is a little about me. I’m originally from Puerto Rico. I am fluent in both English and Spanish. When I was about 10 years old, I received the calling to become a veterinarian. This calling led me to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Technology and I became a registered veterinary nurse. My undergrad education and calling then led me to the United States, where I continued to pursue my career in the veterinary field. I became the Registered Veterinary Nurse for the Exotic-Zoological Medicine Department, Dermatology Department, and ICU-ER Department at Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine (KSU-CVM).

After a few years of employment, I applied to become a student at KSU-CVM, where I earned my degree as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine. My first job as a veterinarian was in Texas, where I worked as an overnight emergency veterinarian. Then, in 2018, my path led me to the Sunshine State, Florida, where I practiced as an associate veterinarian in general practice.

As a pet parent and doctor, it is such an honor to be of service to our furry loved ones and their families, families like yours. Together, we can provide them with the gift of a peaceful transition and in the comfort of their own home. Choosing end-of-life care was my next given calling and led me to help hundreds of families in Central Florida.

Besides my professional life in veterinary medicine, I enjoy spending time with my fur-babies, friends, and family. I also love reading, painting, photography, listening to music, going to Disney, traveling, and spending time in nature.

Dr. Rhaysa Feliciano

I am originally from Puerto Rico and relocated to Alabama in 2011 to pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian. In 2015, I proudly earned my veterinary degree from Tuskegee University. Before beginning my career as a general practice veterinarian, I completed a year-long small animal rotating internship that exposed me to multiple specialties and helped shape me into a well-rounded clinician. This opportunity was what first brought me to Florida.

One of the most meaningful aspects of my work is the connection I share with both pets and the families who love them. As a lifelong dog owner, I have experienced the joys of companionship as well as the heartache of saying goodbye. These personal experiences have deepened my understanding of the human-animal bond and strengthened my commitment to guiding families through difficult times with compassion and respect.

In my role at Loving Arms, I strive to honor that bond by providing comfort and support when it matters most.

Outside of my professional life, I enjoy watching movies and TV shows and spending time with my 5 year old son and family. I am also the devoted caregiver to my cherished chihuahua (Antonio), a breed that holds a very special place in my heart.

Dr. Brandi Lunsford

As a very young person, I knew I wanted to help care for animals even before I knew what a veterinarian was. The only other calling I ever felt as powerful was to be a parent. Once our sons were born, I decided that I wanted to stay at home to care for them. However, being a veterinarian was something that called me so strongly that, in my thirties, I returned to school. Despite being a non-traditional student (and the oldest in my class), I graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. Over the next decade, I gained experience in various aspects of veterinary care as a general practitioner.

During this time at home, our family continued to grow with the adoption of a daughter, and we have enjoyed many trips to Florida enjoying all it has to offer. We love it so much that we made it our new home. This relocation provided the opportunity to join Loving Arms in the Orlando area.

Helping guide clients through the most challenging aspects of being a pet parent is something I have always believed is the most important thing veterinarians do. I feel it is truly an honor to be able to offer help within the sacred bonds of family.

Dr. Sarah Ballentine

I grew up in a very animal-friendly household. If there was an animal in need, my family was the people whom our community called. We took care of bunnies, rats, dogs, cats, cockatiels, parakeets, a bearded dragon, hamsters, and guinea pigs (there were many others, too!). I have always been familiar with caring for animals and have a great deal of experience losing them as well. Many of our beloved furry family members came to us broken and providing them with immense care helped spark a genuine love and kindness in me that I am grateful to be able to provide to my patients currently. I became very interested in the rehabilitation of various species and the relationships humans have formed with different animals. Observing the beautiful relationships that blossom between humans, animals, and the environment inspired me to pursue a career that uniquely supports these bonds.

I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, part of the University of London, in 2022. Being able to study abroad has broadened my knowledge of different welfare standards worldwide and the many approaches to veterinary medicine regarding a plethora of species. Several of my greatest passions are working with farm animals and large exotic mammals, specifically utilizing a one health approach to enrich my patients' lives through medicine, their environment, and diet. Welfare is extremely important for my patients’ health, which can also positively impact their owners. Helping to provide a calm and peaceful transition for pets and animals at the end of their lives is an aspect of our practice that I value greatly. There is an appreciation for in-home euthanasia that has lasting impacts on how clients will grieve and remember their loved ones.

Over the years, I have had to say goodbye to many loved fur-babies. Each loss hit me and my family in different ways, from shock to despair. One consistent thing was the wish that each of our family members could have been home when they passed. Our most recent loss of our 13-year-old angel Lily was extremely difficult because of the stress and discomfort she felt being taken to a different environment. Watching her change her behaviour from snoring gently on the couch to pacing in the clinic was disheartening and made us question if we were making the right choice. Being able to reduce any fear, nervousness, and anxiousness that we can by supporting our patients and clients in the familiarity of their homes is a genuine gift.

Dr. Sarah Kinney

I grew up in rural upstate New York on 10 acres of land, and I spent most of my time as a child outside in the woods or with the family dogs and cats. My childhood instilled in me a love for the created world and its creatures, and it was with the intent of learning as much as possible about creation that I attended Calvin College, earning a B.S. in Environmental Science in 2000, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning an M.S. in Conservation Biology in 2003. During my studies, I participated in bat research in Belize and Black-footed Ferret research in Wyoming. However, to care for animals on a more individual level, I pursued a degree in veterinary medicine and graduated from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. I moved to Florida after graduation to be closer to my family. I worked in the Orlando area as an Associate Veterinarian in small animal general practice until 2025, when I felt the call to provide even more individual care to pets by providing them the gift of a peaceful passing in the comfort of their own homes. Having experienced not only the blessing of human hospice care during the passing of my mother at home, but also the passing of my cats at home, it is truly a priceless treasure to be in the calm and safety of one's own home during some of life's most devastating losses. I consider it both an honor and a privilege to be present with and come alongside people when they make the difficult decision to say goodbye to their beloved companions.

Dr. Sarah Wratten

I was born and raised in a very remote part of Zimbabwe, Africa, and I grew up in the National Parks where my father dedicated his life to wildlife conservation. I initially followed in his footsteps, working alongside him to protect endangered species such as elephants, rhinos, sables, and roan antelopes and many others. After his accidental passing in 2003, I moved to the U.S. to pursue higher education, earning my veterinary degree at Washington State University.

My veterinary career has continued to take me across the globe. I’ve been involved in non-profit veterinary work throughout Central and South America, Greece, Asia, and Africa, providing free veterinary care to local communities. My involvement in these projects is ongoing. In the U.S., I’ve primarily worked as a shelter veterinarian in both Florida and Colorado. Over the past five years, I lived in New Zealand, where I worked as an emergency and orthopedic vet for working dogs on the North Island, later transitioning to a mixed-animal practice on the South Island. In February 2025, my husband and I returned to Florida to be closer to my sister and her family.

Recently, we lost both of our beloved dogs to age-related illnesses. That experience deeply reminded me of what folks go through when they say goodbye to their cherished companions. I consider it both an honor and a privilege to be able to support people and their pets through these difficult moments.

The staff was incredibly supportive and made my experience comfortable and reassuring.

Emily R.

I felt heard and valued throughout my entire visit; highly recommend this place!

James T.

★★★★★

What Families Are Saying

★★★★★

Here are a few words from the families we’ve had the honor to support: