Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Social work with a pet loss support group in a university veterinary hospital.
- Journal:
- Social work in health care
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Dunn, Kathleen L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Social Work Department · United States
Plain-English summary
This article talks about a support group created for pet owners who are grieving the loss of their pets at a university veterinary hospital. It recognizes that the bond between people and their pets can be very strong, and losing that bond can lead to significant sadness, which is often not addressed. The article provides a detailed overview of how the support group was set up, including its history, how clients were informed about it, the program's structure, and the types of issues discussed in the group. It also emphasizes the importance of teamwork among veterinarians, pet owners, and social workers in other veterinary settings. Overall, the article highlights the need for support for those dealing with pet loss.
Abstract
This article describes the development of a bereavement support group for pet owners in a university veterinary hospital. The group is predicated on the understanding that a human-animal relationship can be strong and the loss of that bond, through the animal's death, can produce a grief reaction, though this problem is often overlooked. The description of the support group is presented in detail so that it may be replicated. Included are: the history of the group, the procedure for making clients aware of the group, the program, the demographics, and problems brought to the group. The discussion and conclusion support the development of interdisciplinary collaborations among veterinarians, owners and social workers in other veterinary hospitals.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16048862/