Supporting the human needs at Friendship Hospital for Animals
The human-animal bond is an important aspect of many of our lives and families. We appreciate that emergencies, serious illness or death of a pet can be especially distressing and often presents many challenges for individuals and families. At Friendship Hospital for Animals, a trained, licensed social worker may help support individuals, families and staff through difficult moments and connect them with valuable community resources. All services of the veterinary social worker are free and available to all within the Friendship community. You may connect with the veterinary social worker by emailing socialwork@friendshiphospital.com.
Some of the client services offered by our veterinary social worker include:
- Providing emotional support, bereavement and grief counseling, and crisis interventions to clients relating to stressors within veterinary care
- Offering counseling and psychoeducation during difficult moments of decision making for animal’s care
- Facilitating bi monthly Pet-Loss Support Groups for clients to share their experiences with pet loss
- Supporting advance-care planning for animals with quality-of-life tools to align care with client’s and pet’s individual goals and values
- Sharing community resources available for ongoing emotional and financial assistance
- Advocating for client and animal’s needs as an integrated liaison within the veterinary-care team
