About Dr. Sara Render Hopkins, DVM, CVA, CHPV

I was raised in Toronto, Canada and moved with my family to the United States in 1991. I’m happy to call Washington State my home, where I’ve lived since 1996.

For years I knew that I wanted to work with animals. I completed my veterinary education at Washington State University in 2000, and more recently, veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).

I practiced at an Eastside small animal clinic for 11 years. I loved my work there, particularly my patients and their families. In the later years, I developed an interest in pain management and a passion for giving pets the dignified and loving end-of-life journey they deserved. In 2013, I felt the need to combine my acupuncture training with my love for compassionate care of animals in a home-based setting, and founded Compassion 4 Paws.

I’m so glad I did. I find nothing more fulfilling than offering pets the care and dignity they deserve in an environment where they’re completely comfortable.

In the fall of 2017, I became one of the first veterinarians to achieve certification in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care through the IAAHPC (International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care). The 16 month course furthered my knowledge to better support pets and their families during their end-of-life journey.

I live in Edmonds with my husband Dennis, our young son, our cats Tallulah and Sushi, and our dogs Roy and Tilley. During my free time I enjoy traveling, camping, reading, crafts and spending time with friends.

Click here to view Dr. Sara’s Educational Background & Professional Affiliations.

About Dr. Allison Edwards, DVM

I was raised in the Seattle area and am proud to be a 3rd generation Seattleite. I am happy to be back home after many years of being away at school. I completed my veterinary education at Washington State University in 2012 and then spent a year undertaking a small animal rotating internship at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, CO (the clinic of Animal Planet’s ‘Emergency Vets’ television fame). Since graduation, I have been practicing emergency medicine. I believe this was the best preparation for my transition to hospice and end of life care, since the two often go hand in hand. I am so grateful to have made this move to Compassion 4 Paws  and truly feel as though I have found my calling. I find it so satisfying to be able to guide and assist people and their beloved pets during this difficult time.

I currently live in the Pinehurst neighborhood with my husband and our pups Henry and Bella. During my free time I enjoy running, camping, traveling and beer tasting.  While continuing my training in palliative care, I am excited to incorporate cold laser therapy into the services we offer our clients.

About Dr. Maia Chan, DVM

I’m a native Pacific Northwesterner – born in Oregon but raised in Alaska, I consider Anchorage my hometown. I originally came to the Seattle area in 1995. I completed my veterinary education at North Carolina State University in 2005 and practiced for three years at Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital in the Chicago area – I will always have a special place in my heart for reptiles, pocket pets, and birds.

Seeking a professional change and also to be closer to my family, I returned to Seattle and completed my masters in Comparative Medicine at the University of Washington in 2011. I continued to work at the University of Washington, then the University of British Columbia and Seattle Children’s Research Institute, caring for research animals. The most compelling part of my work with research animals was the opportunity to improve their quality of life and focus on their individual needs and welfare. In time I found that I wanted to find similar work with companion animals. I had met Dr. Sara in 2015 when she cared for my own aging and ailing dog, and immediately appreciated the benefits of in-home hospice and end-of-life care for our pets. I was so grateful for the services Dr. Sara and her team provide – I wouldn’t have had it any other way for my dog. Three years later, I’m thrilled and incredibly honored to join her team at Compassion 4 Paws.

I live in south Beacon Hill with Addie, my pit bull. Evenings and weekends will find me with my friends trail running, hiking, doing CrossFit, enjoying great food and drinks(!), or playing pub trivia.

About Dr. Tracy Fuelleman, DVM, CVA

I was born in Colorado but grew up in Southern California. I left California in 1980 to begin college at Seattle’s Pacific Lutheran University and went on to complete my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in 1989. I returned to Washington State after completing vet school and have since called this area my home.

Following my return to the Pacific Northwest, I have had the pleasure of practicing veterinary medicine in several hospitals in the greater Puget Sound area. In 2015 I obtained my certification in Veterinary Acupuncture through Colorado State University. In the last several years, my focus of practice has evolved and I am very pleased and honored to work with Compassion 4 Paws to assist people and their precious pets in times of need.

I live in Seattle with my husband Don. When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling, gardening, food and wine, and reading.

About Shawnee Neubauer, Practice Manager and Care Coordinator

I started my career with animals when I was 18 years old – that’s when I began work as a “kennel kid” for a small animal practice in Glendale, Arizona. Soon after, I was able to turn my passion for pets into a career. I worked for a short time at the Arizona Humane Society as an adoptions counselor, then started taking classes to become a veterinary assistant. Following that, I began an externship at the Emergency Animal Clinic and was hired on as a veterinary assistant for a group of local small animal clinics. I quickly climbed the ranks from assistant to technician and eventually to practice manager, a position I enjoyed for many years. During that time, I was able to devote some of my time to animal rescue, volunteering with Arizona Border Collie Rescue whenever I could.

After living a few wonderful years in the Pacific Northwest, my husband and I relocated to Colorado. I am thankful to continue my work with Compassion 4 Paws  and feel honored to help people and pets through these difficult times.

When I’m not at home playing in the dirt or attempting to perfect my skills in the fiber arts, I love to spend my time exploring the great outdoors with my husband and our three border collies.

About Tasha Denison, Care Coordinator

I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with animals. At 18 my passion became a reality when I began working at a veterinary practice. Over the years, I had opportunity to travel to different veterinary hospitals to better my team building skills, client education and improve staff morale when needed.

I am incredibly thankful to have found my calling with Compassion 4 Paws. I strive to help families through their most difficult times and hope to make their transition as smooth as it can possibly be. It is a true blessing to work with such an amazing team who are equally as passionate about the relationship between people and their beloved pets.

In my spare time, I enjoy lounging in the sun, going out with friends and spending quality time with my kitty Nova, pup Gotti, husband and son. You can find us working on our toys in the shop or supporting our Seahawks during football season!

About Elizabeth Clark, Care Coordinator

My life has been dedicated to the human-animal bond and I have been so fortunate to witness it first hand both in my personal life and in my career. After graduating from WSU in 2007, I have worked in veterinary hospital operations and management which has been extremely rewarding in so many ways. However, after losing my two beloved Great Danes at the sweet, old age of 12 – I feel passionate about helping people who are experiencing the same struggles and heartbreak as I did during that difficult time. I once read that ‘even death has a heart’ and that is why I work for Compassion 4 Paws. Your heartbreak is my heartbreak, we are in it together.

About Audrey Parks, DVM, CVA, CVFT

I am a native Seattleite and true Cougar alumni. Having lived in Eastern Washington for seven years to complete my veterinary education at Washington State University in 2018, Pullman will always have a piece of my heart but it is refreshing to return home to the greenery of the PNW.

While in school I discovered a passion for complementary medicine and the many tools we have available to improve the human animal bond in a clinic setting. Soon thereafter, I went to China to begin my training for small animal acupuncture. Over the course of my education, I completed the course to earn my certification (CVA), as well as certify in holistic food therapy (CVFT) and Fear Free, low stress handling. I gathered these skills along the way in efforts to better serve both my patients and my clients, hoping to provide them with opportunities to actively participate in their fur-child’s wellness in all life stages.

In the midst of my training, I met Dr. Sara and it became clear that in home hospice and end of life care was what I had been looking for to fulfill my expectations of care both as a veterinarian, and pet parent. Two years later, I could not be more humbled or grateful to be joining her and the Compassion 4 Paws caretakers! I truly look forward to working with you and your fur family as a team. I live in my home neighborhood of Queen Anne and can usually be found making a mess in the kitchen, exploring new hiking trails, or finding my balance through yoga.

About Dennis Hopkins, Logistics

I’m grateful to say I was able to create a thriving remodeling business from the ground up, one that focused on integrity, efficiency and environmental stewardship – all of which are very important to me.

When Sara began to consider leaving general veterinary practice to start Compassion 4 Paws, I realized the potential for helping people and their beloved pets in this type of in-home care.  At that time I decided to retire my remodeling business and began focusing more on Compassion 4 Paws.  As I watched the practice grow, I began to recognize some of the business insufficiencies that were time consuming and cumbersome for the doctors as well as the care coordinators.  I applied my project management skills and rallied a team of consultants and software developers to create a software application for mobile hospice veterinarians to make the business side of their practice more efficient . And that was the start of REX Veterinary Software. I also assist with the day-to-day operations at Compassion 4 Paws making sure the team is equipped to help the people and the pets they love.