Our Team
Stephanie Messick, CPEP Academy Director
Stephanie Messick has been with CAETA since 2020, as Admin Assistant and then to the role of Academy Director. Her passion to elevate end-of-life pet care began in 2012. Stephanie worked in animal welfare in Florida, then transitioned to pet aftercare service in 2015 when she joined The Pet Loss Center. She partnered with veterinary teams across the states of Florida and Colorado to elevate their practice’s end-of-life care by providing world class cremation and pet loss services with the utmost dignity, honor and respect. In 2016 Stephanie completed the Two Hearts Pet Loss Center certificate program in Pet Loss & Grief Companioning. In 2018, Stephanie received her Bachelor degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. With her unique combination of perspectives, Stephanie is a dedicated advocate for best practices in end-of-life pet support. She believes in commitment to continued euthanasia education, building relationships with and supporting veterinary teams, and a focus on enhancing client and patient experience with bereavement support, and exceptional aftercare programs.
Kathleen has been practicing advanced end-of-life care since 2006. She is well-known for her work in companion animal euthanasia and has authored two books on the subject. Dr. Cooney has collaborated in euthanasia training for the AVMA, AAHA, IAAHPC, HABRI, the Fear Free program, and more. The CAETA program is Dr. Cooney's design and is based around the The 14 Essential Components of Companion Animal Euthanasia. She is a strong advocate for best practices in all aspects of end-of-life care and speaks nationally and internationally on such topics. Dr. Cooney is Board Certified in animal welfare through the American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW) and engages in research to improve veterinary medicine and patient care. Learn more about her academic and professional experience.
Lianna Titcombe BScH, DVM, CHPV, CPEV, CCFP CAETA Instructor
Dr. Lianna dedicated her professional career to animal hospice beginning in 2012 when she opened one of the first veterinary practices in Canada devoted to end-of-life home care for companion animals. She is past president of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care and is still active with their international committee, collaborating with hospice veterinarians all over the world. In an effort to improve animal welfare more universally, Dr. Lianna participates in volunteer missions to provide veterinary care to underserved communities both locally and in developing countries. A large focus of her education has been the care of all the people involved in the end-of-life stage for companion animals. Dr. Lianna directed the Pet Loss Support Group of Ottawa for over 20 years and recently became a certified grief educator. Recognizing that her true passion is the art of gentle euthanasia, Dr. Lianna joined the CAETA team in 2021 as the first international instructor.
Shannon Skevakis DVM, CPEV, CFFP CAETA Instructor
Shannon Skevakis, DVM, CPEV, FFCP, has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2011. A graduate of the University of Florida, Dr. Skevakis began specializing in end-of-life work as part of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice in 2013. Finding her calling, she focused all energy on making the end-of-life experience meaningful for both patient and client. In 2020, Dr. Skevakis launched her own mobile hospice service, Eternal Pawprints Veterinary Hospice, serving Maryland families. She joined with the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) in 2023 as an Associate Instructor, spreading best practices in all aspects of euthanasia and is credentialed as a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian. Dr. Skevakis is passionate about the good death revolution.
Chris Hickman DVM, CHPV, CPEV CAETA Instructor
Dr. Chris Hickman graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1988. She worked steadily as a veterinary locum in various practice settings including emergency clinics, small animal clinics (both rural and urban settings) and feline specialty practices. In 2013, Dr. Hickman dedicated her professional life to animal hospice/palliative care and in-home euthanasia for pets. She has earned the designation of Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian, being one of the first to earn the distinction. Dr. Hickman runs a mobile veterinary hospice service in Ontario focusing on elevated end-of-life care for pets. She has been part of the CAETA team since 2023.
Elke Rudloff DVM, DACVECC, CPEV, CVMA CAETA Instructor
Dr. Elke Rudloff has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 30 years. A graduate of Purdue University, she is board certified in emergency and critical care and now dedicates her time to protecting the end of life experience for companion animals. Dr. Rudloff is certified in veterinary medical acupuncture and has a strong passion for pain management, quality of life enhancement, and a gentle end-of-life experience. She is a published author, as well as a regular speaker at events around the US. Dr. Rudloff is a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian and CAETA Instructor, helping to teach euthanasia best practices to veterinary teams everywhere.
Emilea Burton DVM, CHPV, CPEV CAETA Instructor
Dr. Emilea Burton attended North Carolina State University for 8 years, earning a bachelor’s degree in zoology, and then her veterinary degree in 2015. She pursued a small animal internship at the VCA Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado and received additional training in neurology, surgery, internal medicine, emergency/critical care, and general practice. After spending several years in general practice, Dr. Emilea learned about in-home end-of-life care and quickly realized what an invaluable resource it was for the community. She believes providing a peaceful end-of-life transition is perhaps the most meaningful gift we can give to our pets and has dedicated her career to euthanasia and animal hospice since 2020. Dr. Burton has completed over 100 hours of end-of-life care continuing education and earned her certification in hospice and palliative care (CHPV). Dr. Burton joined the CAETA team in 2024.
Robyn Fox LVT, CHPT, CPEP CAETA Instructor
Robyn Fox is a credentialed veterinary technician with a passion for compassionate end-of-life care. She spent the majority of her career working alongside and teaching veterinary students at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Robyn developed a passion for hospice and palliative care early on, and throughout her career, has participated in many home euthanasias. She became a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Technician (CHPT) in 2023, and a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Professional (CPEP) in 2024. The most meaningful experiences she has had in her career have been walking caregivers and their pets through the end of life process. Robyn is excited to be a new member of the CAETA Instructor team and is looking forward to sharing her knowledge with others.
Leanne Mathew, DVM, CPEV CAETA Instructor
Dr. Leanne Mathew has focused her career within veterinary end-of-life care since 2019 when she began working with Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice. As a graduate of the University of Missouri, Dr. Mathew began her career in emergency medicine, and quickly recognized the sanctity of euthanasia appointments and importance of quality of life conversations. She believes veterinarians can provide an invaluable gift to our patients through a peaceful and personalized farewell, honoring the love and life we share with our pets. Dr. Mathew has utilized her experience within end-of-life care to provide mentorship and training to Lap of Love veterinarians who are entering this field, and she is passionate about sharing euthanasia and communication best practices with colleagues and support staff. Dr. Mathew is a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian and began working with CAETA in 2024.
Lacey Lancaster, CPEP Administrative Assistant
Lacey Lancaster first became passionate about companion animal euthanasia best practices in 2006 when she worked for the animal control serving her hometown and surrounding rural areas. Her tenure there ignited a passion for animal sheltering and she was able to take that experience, along with her training as a veterinary assistant, to a humane society serving a larger area. After deciding to return to school to complete her Bachelor's degree in 2015, she took a part-time job with PetSmart, which served to further enhance her respect for the human-animal bond and think more critically about the ways in which we can best honor it. After graduation, she took a job with the University of Georgia's Veterinary Teaching Hospital as an Administrative Associate. In this role, she took a special interest in providing resources and comfort to clients facing end-of-life care decisions. Her enthusiasm for this type of work led to forming a close relationship with the school's clinical counselor which ultimately led her to discover the work of CAETA. Lacey's passion for improving end-of-life care for companion animals and the people who love them, as well as her penchant for going above and beyond to serve in her role as support staff, make her a welcome addition to the CAETA team.
