From a young age I loved animals, but it wasn’t until high school when I discovered a passion for biology, physics, and scientific thinking that becoming a veterinarian felt like a natural path. After earning my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, I moved from New York across the western U.S.— to Boise, Idaho and later to Pullman, Washington, where I attended the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2009.
After graduation, I worked in small animal general practice for five years in Virginia before our family relocated to the Triangle to start a new chapter and be closer to NC State (my husband’s alma mater). It has been a great place to raise our kids. We love having nature, culture, good schools, and easy trips to the mountains and coast all nearby. My husband and I have two children and currently share our home with our two dogs (Kevin and Ruby) and three cats (Mr.Potter, Mia and Magician) each one a reminder of the joy and comfort pets bring to our lives.
While continuing my work as a general practitioner, I began providing mobile hospice and end-of-life care in 2018. I found a deep sense of purpose in supporting senior pets and their families during such meaningful moments, helping improve comfort and quality of life in their later years. In 2020, I made the decision to focus exclusively on end-of-life care.
It’s a privilege to be invited into a family’s home and to help make a difficult day as peaceful and compassionate as possible.
About Dr. Dana Lewis
Growing up on Long Island, I was the little girl who couldn’t walk past a baby bird without trying to help, who stopped traffic to rescue turtles, who happily walked neighbors’ dogs just for fun, and who eagerly volunteered to clean cages at the local animal shelter. That deep love for animals led me to Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina (where, true to form, I rescued and raised an orphaned squirrel during my senior year). After graduating, I made the Triangle my home and went on to earn my veterinary degree from NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. I’ve been practicing small animal medicine since 1997.
I’m married with two grown sons, and over the years, our home has been full of pets—each one with a story and a special place in our hearts. Currently, we share our lives with three rescued companions: Lily, our tortie-tabby who showed up at a highway rest stop one freezing winter night; Phineas, a sweet and silly French Bulldog who came to us at nearly six years old with no name and no house-training, but a huge heart; and Neville, his younger, chunkier “brother,” who’s in witness protection, so his past is a bit of a mystery. They’re all bed-hogs, snack-seekers, and beloved members of the family.
Over nearly three decades in veterinary medicine, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how meaningful it is for pets—and their people—to say goodbye in the comfort and privacy of home. I’ve been there myself, helping my own beloved animals pass peacefully, surrounded by family. After 13 years in private practice, I became the first franchise owner of Lap of Love in the Triangle and later earned my certification in Hospice and Palliative Care through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC).
In 2023, with the support of a dedicated care team, I founded Gentle Journey to continue providing compassionate, in-home end-of-life care for families and their pets here in our community. It is an honor to walk alongside families during one of the most tender and meaningful moments in their pet’s life. If comfort can be maintained and quality of life preserved through thoughtful care and pain management, we can give our beloved companions the peaceful goodbye they deserve—and give families more time to create beautiful final memories.
