ABOUT

​THE GOOD LIFE

Dr. Claudia Hite earned her DVM degree from Texas A&M University in 1997 and has been practicing n the greater Puget Sound region ever since.  She spent many years working in emergency veterinary medicine in Tacoma.  Over the years, she developed a special interest in taking care of geriatric patients, and has been making end of life care the focus of her work since 2014 by starting The Good Life. 

Dr. Claudia has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember.  She was fortunate to grow up surrounded by pets in a family of animal lovers that nurtured her interest in animals from an early age.   

Dr. Lisa Roth grew up in Southern California and has always had an affinity for animals.  She has raised Guide Dog puppies and led equine trail groups, and began working in veterinary hospitals at the age of 15.  After falling in love with the state of Washington while visiting a friend, Dr. Lisa attended Washington State University where she earned her DVM degree in 1982.  She has been in practice in the South Puget Sound area ever since.

Dr. Lisa’s focus has always been on

preserving and honoring the bond between pets and their people. Throughout her years in practice she has seen how impactful end of life care and decisions around euthanasia can be to that bond, and therefore chose to concentrate on this aspect of veterinary medicine by joining The Good Life in 2018.

Dr. Denise Petryk has been taking care of Pacific NW pets since 1993. A 1991 graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, our Canadian also completed an internship at Purdue University and then added a business degree from Pacific Lutheran University in 2013. After many years as a full time ER vet, Dr. Denise worked as a community college professor, pet insurance consultant and pharmaceutical sales professional. Dr. Denise has special interests in client communication, the pet insurance industry, end of life care, and nutrition.

In her free time Dr. Denise loves to stay active. She enjoys playing co-ed ice hockey, golfing competitively, walking, gardening, travelling, and playing the stock market. Her two brown dogs, Buck and Baxter and cats Socksie, Fluffy and Tiny are always excited to help in the garden. Watching Buck gobble broccoli makes Denise smile every single day.

Susan has worked in Veterinary Hospitals in the capacity of receptionist and hospital manager in California and Pennsylvania.  She also has an extensive history of volunteering at diverse animal related organizations such as UC Davis, various animal shelters and rescues, therapy dog organizations, as well as the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement; she has been a Certified Pet Loss Counselor since 2005.  Through these experiences as well as as a dedicated pet owner, she has developed a special interest in pet loss and grief, and has become a passionate advocate for end of life care in the home setting.  Susan joined The Good Life staff officially in 2018, but has helped on a volunteer basis since almost the beginning.  She helps in appointment scheduling and also lovingly delivers the cremated remains of our patients back to their homes.  

Originally from the Bay area, Susan now lives in Port Orchard with her husband of 27 years and her four dogs.  She enjoys training, grooming and loving her dogs, sewing, wild bird feeding, gardening, photography, photography, and visiting with family in Idaho and California.

Nicole grew up on a small farm in eastern WA and loved working with animals at a very young age; she has worked as a veterinary technician since 2001.  After starting her veterinary career in Arizona where she worked at an emergency veterinary hospital, she received her bachelors degree from Arizona State University in 2006.  She returned to the Evergreen State in 2009 and continued her veterinary career in Tacoma, working mostly in emergency and neurology services.  

Nicole is currently enrolled in the nursing program at Tacoma Community College, but she still puts her veterinary skills to use by providing phone support for The Good Life.  When her free time isn't taken up by her studies, Nicole enjoys family time with my husband, son, and her cat named Rascal.