Heartstrings Pet Hospice, an Atlanta-based veterinary practice specializing in In-Home Euthanasia & Aftercare, today announced that Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a portfolio company of Cortec Private Equity Group, has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Erin Brown, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer of Heartstrings, seeking to enforce an overly restrictive non-compete agreement in the metropolitan Atlanta, GA market.

Dr. Brown, a highly respected and Fear Free Certified veterinary professional, joined Heartstrings Pet Hospice to bring compassionate, dignified, and respectful in-home end of-life care to families and their beloved pets. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding Heartstrings’ commitment to providing families with peace, comfort, and choice during one of life’s most difficult moments.

Lap of Love’s legal action aims to prevent Dr. Brown from practicing in Atlanta under the terms of an overly restrictive non-compete which Heartstrings believes is unenforceable under Georgia law. In addition to targeting Dr. Brown, the lawsuit also seeks to limit the number of qualified providers available to families, ultimately creating barriers to care that can cause undue emotional and physical suffering for pets and families who cannot be served in their time of need.

At present, due to this litigation, Dr. Brown and Heartstrings Pet Hospice are unable to serve families in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This has left many families without access to compassionate and affordable in-home end-of-life veterinary care, particularly in communities that Lap of Love does not serve. As a result, pets and families are being harmed and impacted by a lack of available providers during their most vulnerable moments, all because of corporate greed.

“Families deserve the right to choose their care provider during such an intimate and emotional time,” said Shawn Martin, Founder and CEO of Heartstrings Pet Hospice. “Restrictive non-compete agreements only serve to limit that choice while putting unnecessary stress on doctors who have dedicated their lives to serving pets and their families. These contracts also limit financial growth and career trajectory for all veterinarians who are forced to sign them just to work in their chosen profession.”

Martin continued: “Lap of Love, backed by private equity through Cortec Group, is pursuing this litigation to enforce an overly restrictive non-compete to limit not only Dr. Brown’s competition but competition in general by other providers. Heartstrings, by contrast, is independently owned and has never required veterinarians to sign such non-compete agreements. We believe in empowering doctors, supporting their career and financial success, while protecting the freedom of families to choose who cares for their beloved pets.”

Heartstrings Pet Hospice operates on the principle that non-compete agreements have no place in veterinary medicine. As a privately owned practice, Heartstrings has never required its doctors to sign such agreements, believing instead in creating fulfilling careers while serving families with empathy and excellence.

Despite the lawsuit, Heartstrings remains committed to serving Atlanta families as soon as legally permissible and will continue advocating for fair treatment of veterinary professionals across the country.

For those who wish to support Heartstrings’ efforts to protect families in Atlanta, or if you have had similar experiences with Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, please contact us at lapoflovelawsuit@heartstringspethospice.com.

For more information about Heartstrings Pet Hospice and its commitment to compassionate and affordable In-Home End-of-Life Specialty Care, please visit us at www.HeartstringsPetHospice.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250925923303/en/

Standing Firm in Reimagining Veterinary Medicine for Doctors and Families — Heartstrings Pet Hospice Responds to Lap of Love’s Lawsuit