We are a small team of professionals passionate about assisting families and their pets. We are dedicated to providing you exception service and support all along the way.
Dawn Slessman, RVT | Owner
In 1986, I graduated from Purdue University as a Registered Veterinary Technician.
Over my 37 year career, I have performed countless euthanasias and it never got any easier. I have found the human-animal bond to be a vital part of our existence and one that I care deeply about, helping honor the final moments of an animal’s life. Nature’s Way Pet Aftercare was created to make sure that families receive the understanding and closure we all desperately need, for the end of a chapter in our lives.
Halie Davis, Veterinary Social Worker
As a fellow pet parent, I am dedicated to helping grieving pet parents navigate through difficult transitions and loss. I strive to create a safe, and nonjudgemental space where clients can feel supported in the healing process.
I understand the importance of the human-animal bond am here to provide compassionate guidance throughout this difficult time. By offering individualized support to each family, I can connect you to resources that best fit your unique needs.
Dean (left) and Jason (right), Cremation Operators
Dean and Jason are our cremation operators and assist with pet transportation. They both are dedicated to handling your pet with the utmost compassion and accuracy while they are in our care.
Jason is responsible to make sure that all of our equipment is in top performing shape every day and cares for your pet throughout the cremation process.
Dean oversees the custom engraving department and is a business partner to Dawn (owner). Together they run the day-to-day operations of the crematory.
Dr. Jennifer Stresemann, Veterinarian
As a veterinarian, I have committed my life’s work to helping animals. I have worked in emergency and critical care, shelter medicine, veterinary forensics and primary care. The one constant I have experienced throughout all of these aspects of caring for pets was the deep desire to bring ultimate peace during their final passing. I grew up in Fort Wayne and was happy to return home upon graduating from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006.
I am excited to be starting my own company, Peaceful Passing, with the goal of providing pet families with a unique way to care for their pets in their final moments. I am honored that Peaceful Passing will be partnering with Nature’s Way Pet Aftercare. As both of our businesses share the same mission of helping families carry out their vision of how they want their pets cared for as they say goodbye.
Dr. Krystle King, Veterinarian
My veterinary career officially began in 2012 when I graduated from Purdue’s School of Veterinary Medicine. However, as a third-generation veterinarian, I can honestly say that veterinary medicine has always been a part of my life in some way, shape, or form. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that while diagnostics and treatments continue to evolve, one thing remains constant: the strength and resilience of the human-animal bond.
As animal lovers, we all strive to mirror the love and devotion our pets pour out for us every day. One beautiful example of this is offering our pets a peaceful, compassionate goodbye in a way that feels authentic to us and the relationship we shared with them.
Understanding the emotional weight of this journey, my goal is to ensure each final farewell is handled with love, care, and respect. To provide families with more personalized end-of-life care options, I founded Serenity Mobile Veterinary Care in 2024. I feel incredibly fortunate to partner with Nature’s Way Pet Aftercare to help offer these essential services to our community.
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