The pandemic caused a great deal of stress. It stretched us and forced us to pivot quickly and change certain areas of our lives. As our communities transition through the pandemic, I hope that everyone stays safe and we reach the other side quickly.

Before the pandemic, I had the pleasure of meeting today’s guest, Paige Lynch, for coffee. We spoke about many fascinating and relevant topics, including her work with animal rescue and her private therapy practice.

Paige is the Compassion Fatigue Program Coordinator at Tenth Life, a cat shelter in St. Louis, Missouri. They are a rescue organization with a mission to give cats the lives they deserve, despite their limitations. In her private practice, Paige assists people in the helping profession with self-care and setting boundaries. She also leads seminars and offers resources to help those in the helping profession build resilience.

In this episode, Paige explains what goes on at Tenth Life. She also discusses the work she does as a therapist and talks about compassion fatigue. Stay tuned for more!

Paige’s Bio:

Paige Lynch, LPC

Paige Lynch is a licensed professional counselor in St. Louis City in Missouri. She earned her Masters in Counseling from Webster University in 2012 and has worked in a variety of settings. She now owns and operates her private practice, Lynch Counseling, LLC. Paige has developed her practice to include work with those in the helping professions, including animal rescue. Proper self-care, boundary setting, and self-compassion are primary components of her work with others. She has been a volunteer with local cat rescue, Tenth Life, for several years, where she has extended her practice as a therapist as their Compassion Fatigue Program Coordinator. She leads seminars on the topic and offers resources to the fosters and volunteers of Tenth Life, hoping to generate resilience and eliminate compassion fatigue so that everyone can continue the amazing work they do.

Show highlights:

Paige talks about all the pets she has had.

Paige shares how she feels after the recent passing of her cat, Chester.

How pets can help us and ground us in times of change.

Paige discusses her therapy practice, the people she works with, and the kind of work she does to help them.

Paige defines compassion fatigue and explains how it affects people.

The difference between the symptoms of compassion fatigue and those of burnout.

Paige explains what Tenth Life is all about. She talks about their approach and what they do there.

How to know if you have enough love- and money, to take care of a special needs animal.

Follow your mission, but know your boundaries.

What to do if you find a lost pet.

Learning to practice self-care.

Paige shares her goals for the future.

What you can do to help Tenth Life.

Links and Resources:

www.tenthlifecats.org

www.lynchcounseling.com

Find all episodes of the Animal Academy Podcast https://animal-academy-podcast.captivate.fm/ (here).

It is easy to take the significant role a pet can play in a child’s life for granted. Growing up with pets teaches children many lessons about life, and often, just being in their pet’s presence helps them calm down. Animals provide unconditional love and offer companionship in a different way than human relationships do.

My very first dog gravitated towards my mother, who fed and trained him. He became her loyal companion, which hurt my feelings as a seven-year-old because I wanted him to be my buddy. Then, a rescue dog came into our lives and became mine. I trained her and slept with her, and she became my best friend for the next thirteen years! She was a stable and dependable force in my life and helped me navigate my sometimes painful childhood and teenage experiences. We had a special bond that I will never forget!

Today, my nephew, Andrew, joins me to share his experiences of growing up with pets. He discusses what he learned, and talks about the special friendship he shared with his first dog, Pamet. Be sure to stay tuned today to hear Andrew’s heart-warming story!

Show highlights:

Andrew talks about his life currently.

Andrew discusses the influence that his first pet had on his life.

Andrew shares his earliest memories of his first dog.

How Andrew came to name his puppy Pamet.

Andrew remembers learning about responsibility as a four-year-old pooper-scooper.

Why being seen as a litter-mate by your puppy is not a good idea.

The support and companionship that Andrew received from the animals in his life.

How living with animals differs from relationships with humans.

After having had one dog and five cats, Andrew is still a dog person.

Andrew talks about his life with two kittens.

The difference between having a relationship with a dog and a cat.

How pets help to keep us happy and in the present moment.

Andrew talks about the hardest part of having pets.

Andrew shares the biggest lesson that his pets have taught him.

Andrew Peacock’s Bio

Andrew Peacock and Allison White go way back — not only to Andrew’s birth since they’re aunt and nephew but to the very beginning of a young boy’s love for animals. At the ripe age of four, Allison’s beloved dog, Charity, had a litter of puppies, providing Andrew’s family with their very first pup. The dog was named Pamet, after a waterway on Cape Cod, and quickly became Andrew’s best friend. Andrew learned many lessons from Pamet throughout the pup’s decade of life, including how to befriend, teach, and love another being. But perhaps the most valuable lesson that Andrew continues the journey of embodying every day, is how to cherish and love life, just like Pamet did. Since then, Andrew, now 23, has shared in the joys of owning four fish, three cats, and two frogs throughout his life. He is now undergoing the wonderful yet bewildering journey of looking after two beautiful and quite strange black cats named Noodle and Darcy with his partner, Haley, in Ohio. Andrew graduated from The College of Wooster in May of 2020 and has been working as a freelance editor and barista during the pandemic. He currently looks forward to leaping into graduate school at Georgetown University for a Master’s in Communication, Culture, and Technology. He hopes to one day use his words for some kind of financial benefit, but who knows

We don’t always think about where the food we eat comes from, or the work that happens behind the scenes with raising animals and tending to the crops. Those are hard jobs for farmers, and so is being accountable to the consumers. When choosing the food we buy, we are faced with so many decisions, and many of the labels can be confusing and difficult to understand.

Today, I am happy to welcome Anne Malleau as my guest for the podcast. Anne is the Executive Director for Global Animal Partnerships, the leading farm animal welfare standards and labeling organization in North America. She is an animal scientist with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture, a Master of Science in Poultry Behaviour and Welfare, and an MBA in Agribusiness. Be sure to listen in today to learn about animal welfare, sustainability, and the science behind the decisions made when raising animals for food.

Show highlights:

Anne talks about how she got started in her field.

Anne discusses the science behind the decisions made for whole foods and G.A.P.

Anne explains the difference between animal welfare and animal rights.

There are different sections on Anne’s website, depending on whether you are a consumer, looking for pet food, or business. She explains what that is all about.

Anne discusses the three pillars that form the backbone of the G.A.P. standard.

It is vital to pay attention to the emotional lives of animals.

Anne explains how G.A.P. follows up on the standards.

Anne discusses the different labels, which can be confusing.

What consumers need to know about organic produce, and how it is labeled.

You can find G.A.P. in more than 5000 places. Anne talks about the number of animals they certify annually.

The effects that Covid has had on what Anne is doing.

There are has blog articles and recipes on the G.A.P. website.

Anne talks about the changes that she would like to see in the future.

Bio:

Anne Malleau is the Executive Director for Global Animal Partnership (G.A.P.), the leading farm animal welfare standards and labeling organization in North America. In addition to G.A.P.’s commitment to continuous improvement in improving the lives of farm animals, G.A.P. has pioneered ‘farm to fork’ support for their partners - designed to provide additional business support and opportunities for partners where possible.

Established in 2008, G.A.P. impacts the welfare of over 416MM animals annually through third-party certification of more than 3,900 farms across 11 countries, with labeled products in over 5,000 outlets. G.A.P. believes that meaningful label claims, validated by third-party audits on every farm, are key to influencing the industry, raising consumer expectations, and creating long-lasting change for animals.

Anne is also an Executive Leader of Meat and Poultry – Live Production at Whole Foods Market – the leading grocer of natural and organic food in the US - where she provides farm animal production compliance support to the meat teams.

Anne is an animal scientist with a BSc in agriculture, an MSc in poultry behavior and welfare, and an MBA in agribusiness. She has studied and worked in animal agriculture for more than 20 years.

Anne currently lives and works from her farm outside of Toronto, Canada traveling often. She has two young children and enjoys crafting, cooking, gardening, and helping her husband renovate their home.

Links and resources:

https://globalanimalpartnership.org/ (Global Animal Partnership )

G.A.P. on https://www.linkedin.com/company/certifiedgap/ (LinkedIn), https://twitter.com/CertifiedGAP (Twitter), https://www.facebook.com/G.A.P.Certified (Facebook), andhttps://www.instagram.com/g.a.p.certified/ ( Instagram)

While sharing my life with animals, I have depended on the support of the veterinary professionals who have always been there for emergencies, routine visits, and providing education. They have also helped me make difficult medical decisions regarding the care of my pets and worked tirelessly to assist in taking care of their needs.

I was shocked to learn about the high incidences of depression, anxiety, and suicide among veterinary professionals. Even though it must be wonderful to be part of that profession, do something you love, and work with animals all day, many other factors make the everyday work in that field extremely challenging.

In this episode, I will be speaking with Dr. Carrie Jurney. Besides having worked as a veterinarian for more than twenty years, Carrie is also board-certified in neurology and is the President of NOMV (Not One More Vet), one of the world's largest charities with a focus on veterinary well-being. Be sure to stay tuned today to hear Carrie’s story and find out about the day-to-day challenges that veterinary professionals face.

Show highlights:

Carrie talks about what made her decide to become a veterinarian.

Carrie talks about the different roles she has played and the different experiences she has had in the veterinary field.

Veterinary receptionists are the frontline of a veterinary hospital. They have a difficult role to play.

Carrie often has to have tough conversations. That is why she has worked hard at developing non-verbal skills like conveying empathy.

Carrie talks about the growing concern and awareness around the mental health needs within the veterinary profession, and some of the factors that make working in the veterinary profession so hard.

Carrie explains why she recommends pet health insurance.

Carrie talks about the moment that made her decide to become active with mental health education.

Carrie explains what NOMV is all about and the services they provide.

You can ask to join NOMV here. You are welcome on the forums if you work in the veterinary profession.

Compassion fatigue is real. Carrie talks about what she learned in her training that could help to prevent it.

Carrie talks about the Veterinary Human Support Certificate Program that she has almost completed at the University of Tennessee.

Taking care of yourself is just as important as the work you are doing.

Bio:

Dr. Carrie Jurney has worked in veterinary medicine for well over 20 years, filling every role in the clinic from kennel attendant to practice owner. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005 and was boarded in neurology in 2009 after completing a residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Since that time, she has been based out of the San Francisco Bay Area and is currently the practice owner at Jurney Veterinary Neurology.

Her journey to working on veterinary wellness began in 2015 after helping a coworker through a mental health crisis. Shortly thereafter she joined the admin team at NOMV and began taking extensive continuing education courses in crisis intervention and compassion fatigue. She currently has over 400 hours of training and is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional. She is also a member of the inaugural class of the Veterinary Human Support Certificate Program out of the University of Tennessee Veterinary Social Work Program. She has pioneered multiple programs for mental wellness in the veterinary field, including online educational materials, and an anonymous support program for veterinary professionals in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is the current president of NOMV and a founding board member of the 501c3. While Carrie has worked at NOMV, it has grown to be the largest wellness-focused charity for veterinary well-being in the world, with over 25,000 global members.

As a passionate speaker about mental health and wellness in veterinary medicine,...

Several years ago, Allison White went to a retreat center called The Equine Experience. There, she learned about and experienced the power and intelligence of horses. What she learned intrigued her, so she began reading more about horses and equine therapy. She even met with a local therapist to see how she used her horses for team-building to help people learn to work together and to find out how she uses horses to help her clients overcome obstacles.

Today’s guest, Dr. Aviva Vincent, is a therapist who grew up with a horse and experienced first-hand how that helped her through many of life's challenges. Later on in her life, that experience guided her education, research, and career.

There are many life lessons that we can learn from animals. Be sure to join me today as I speak to Aviva about horses, equine therapy, and the power of collaborating with horses to heal.

Show highlights:

Aviva gives us some of her background and explains how she got started with equine therapy.

Aviva explains how she used the link between interpersonal violence and animal abuse to reflect on her own childhood experiences.

Aviva explains why she encourages every student who reaches out to her to find a mentor.

I share what I learned about horses several years ago at the Equine Experience retreat center. That experience led me to read more about equine therapy and the power of using horses to heal.

Aviva describes the different models for equine-assisted services and talks about what she loves doing the most.

Aviva talks about the difference between behavior and magic.

Aviva discusses a research study that Fieldstone has recently begun in partnership with NYU to understand the link between interpersonal violence and animal abuse. It is a continuation of the research that she did in her doctoral program. They are using a unique strategy to unpack and learn about the magic that helps young people with anxiety, to self-regulate or manage their feelings and emotions when they are riding.

Aviva explains what someone interested in equine therapy can expect from a typical session.

Aviva talks about the grant available at Fieldstone so that no veterans ever have to pay for the service they offer.

Aviva talks about the project she’s working on currently that excites her the most.

With all the different things that she is involved with, Aviva explains what she does to take care of herself.

Biography: Dr. Aviva Vincent

Dr. Aviva Vincent is a doctoral graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Mandel School of Social Welfare in veterinary social work. Her research focuses on the biological impact that animals have on children, specifically in the reduction of fear and anxiety in stressful situations. Additionally, her research includes integration of physiological measures in social science research (e.g. saliva collection for measures of oxytocin, alpha-amylase, and cortisol).

She is co-owner and founder of Healing Paws, LLC, the only Veterinary Social Work practice in Northeast Ohio. Her background in veterinary social work informs her practice as the Director of Program Quality at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In this capacity, she is responsible for ensuring high-quality programs in adaptive riding, hippotherapy, carriage driving, and ground lessons offered to over 1,000 participants annually.

She is an instructor of Animal Assisted Interventions at the University of Tennessee in the Veterinary Social Work Certificate Program. Aviva serves as the co-chair of the human-animal interactions work-group with the National Association of Social Workers-Ohio chapter and serves on the board of the International Association of Veterinary Social Work.

Links, resources, and contact info:

Books:

Memories

https://bookshop.org/books/little-victories-a-true-story-of-the-healing-power-of-horses/9781692591359 (Little Victories)

https://bookshop.org/books/chosen-by-a-horse/9780156031172 (Chosen by a...

I had the pleasure of speaking with today’s guest, Angie Arora, and her colleague several months ago about the research done on the challenges of pet loss and bereavement. They shared so much information during that discussion that I asked Angie to return to the show today. In this episode, Angie takes a deep dive into pet loss and bereavement, the stages of grief, immortalizing a beloved pet, and some of the challenges people had to face during the pandemic.

Angie is a registered social worker from Toronto, Canada, with over sixteen years of experience in the fields of pet loss and veterinary compassion resilience. She is a virtual pet loss facilitator and a lead coach for VetVine’s Wellness and Professional Resiliency Coaching Program. She also continues to research to better support clients through their pet’s end of life. Join us today to hear more about the work Angie is doing to help people through the various stages of the grief process.

Show highlights:

Angie explains what led her to become interested in doing the work she does.

Angie describes the various types of grief.

Angie explains why social support networks are everything when it comes to grief and mourning. And why people need to tap into support networks now more than ever.

Emotional regulation begins with self-awareness. Angie explains what it means to be self-aware.

Angie discusses the importance of the routine that pets bring to our lives.

Kristen Neff wrote an excellent book about self-compassion. Angie explains what self-compassion means and why it is vital to have self-compassion during the grieving process.

Often, when people grieve the loss of a pet, they lose the support networks that are evident in other aspects of their lives.

Validation is a fundamental need. When we are not validated, it can complicate the rest of our healing journey.

We need to find ways to adapt to the pandemic situation without sacrificing our needs in the process. Angie discusses that in the context of pet loss and pet memorial.

Angie discusses the work that David Kessler has been doing around the sixth stage of grief, the meaning stage.

Angie shares some of the greatest lessons she’s learned from the people she has helped.

Angie’s bio:

Angie Arora, MSW, RSW

Angie Arora is a registered Social Worker from Toronto, Canada, with over 16 years of experience in the areas of pet loss and veterinary compassion resilience. She has worked as a hospital Veterinary Social Worker, facilitated community-based pet loss support groups, and engaged in media campaigns to reduce the stigma associated with pet loss. Angie serves as the Board Secretary for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work, is the Research Chair for the International Association for Animal Hospice andPalliative Care, and volunteers her time to address equity issues within veterinary medicine. She works with VetVine as a Virtual Pet Loss Facilitator and is the Lead Coach for their VETPeers Wellness and Professional Resiliency Coaching Program. She is a Professor with Seneca College’s Social Service Worker Program, where she was the principal investigator of a research study that developed guidelines for veterinary teams to better support clients through their pets’ end of life. Angie obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from Ryerson University and Masters of Social Work from York University.

Links and resources:

Contact Angie on https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiearora/ (LinkedIn)

Email Angie – [email protected]

Books:

David Kessler:

“Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief.” https://grief.com/sixth-stage-of-grief/ (https://grief.com/sixth-stage-of-grief/)

Kristen Neff, PhD

Self Compassion- https://self-compassion.org/ (https://self-compassion.org/)

Meg Daley Lomert “Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond”

ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS and CHAT ROOMS:

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement...

I was bothered when I heard about the high rate of depression and suicide among veterinary professionals. When speaking to others about that devastating fact, they have sometimes asked me why that happens because those people are working with animals. The truth is that working with animals led them into their chosen field, but many other factors form part of their daily work that impacts them and could lead to compassion fatigue and burnout.

Dr. Ginger Templeton is my guest for this episode. I met her through the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Social Work program. She is a veterinarian who has a small animal practice and does post-doctoral research. She is also the host of a podcast and coaches other veterinarians to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

Join me today to hear Dr. Ginger’s story, and find out what she has to share about compassion fatigue and burnout.

Show highlights:

Ginger talks about how she got involved with the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Social Work program.

Ginger talks about the chronic stressors and unusual challenges with which veterinarians have to deal.

Ginger was not thinking about veterinary medicine initially when she started her studies in grad school. She explains where her interest in veterinary medicine started.

Ginger explains how the Veterinary Human Support program at the University of Tennessee led her to the academic world.

Ginger discusses the small animal house-call practice that she ran for about five years and what made her decide to close it.

It was fascinating and eye-opening for Ginger to get the whole picture of what goes on with the animals in people’s homes.

Veterinarians are not trained to set boundaries and manage their feelings around the personal details of people’s lives. It is often too much for them to deal with and causes them to burn out.

Ginger talks about her podcast, Vet to Vet Coaching.

Veterinary receptionists often face a lot of abuse. Ginger talks about the kind of support she gives to all team members in a veterinary hospital.

Ginger discusses why veterinarians are unhappy, describes the characteristics of depression and burnout, and explains what veterinarians can do to address those problems.

Some veterinarians have limiting beliefs that prevent them from exploring other career options.

Some of the challenges that veterinary graduates and veterinary social workers have to face.

Ginger talks about compassion fatigue.

Eating well, exercising, and getting a good night’s sleep are essential for your mental health.

Ginger talks about how she coaches other veterinarians.

Bio:

Dr. Ginger Templeton received her master's in microbiology and DVM from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She has been practicing small animal medicine for almost 15 years. Currently, she divides her time between general practice and post-doctoral research in neuroaging and the microbiome. Dr. Templeton is also passionate about working with veterinarians and their teams to prevent and reverse burnout through personal and professional coaching. She is lucky to have a husband who is incredibly supportive of all of her interests and two fabulous teenagers, Michael and Lindsay, who definitely do NOT want to become veterinarians.

Links and resources:

Contact Ginger:

On her https://www.drgingertempleton.com/ (website)

Send her an email [email protected]

Resource-podcast:

Vet to Vet Coaching Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vet-to-vet-coaching-with-dr-ginger-templeton/id1502164450 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vet-to-vet-coaching-with-dr-ginger-templeton/id1502164450)

Don't forget to check out our new website: https://ouranimalconnection.com/?fbclid=IwAR0ZAoedwodx9ohMUEi31er9FGWrRv71T14bMd2VTDJMcxBw178RQP1bitM (https://ouranimalconnection.com/)

While watching TV one morning, an interview caught my attention. The story was about a little girl called Scarlett, her family, and how their love for animals led to the development of a special program to rescue animals. Scarlett had cancer, and she spoke about her relationship with her pets and the support they gave her. The story was one of hope and heartbreak, and it showed the power of friendship and love, and the important role that animals play in our lives.

I am always eager to spread the word when it comes to rescuing animals. After watching the interview, I emailed Robin Chwatco, Scarlett’s mother, and she agreed to talk to me on the podcast. In this episode, Robin shares Scarlett's story. She talks to me about her dream and explains what she did to turn it into a reality. Be sure to tune in today to hear the heart-warming story about Scarlett and her love for animals. You will learn how a child's simple idea led to the development of a program to rescue animals.

Show highlights:

Robin explains how Draw for Paws started with a simple idea from Scarlett.

Robin explains what she loves about the kid-run non-profit, Draw for Paws.

Robin discusses Scarlett’s connection with her own animals.

Robin talks about how Scarlett’s dog, Ollie, showed a sixth sense and had lots of empathy when Scarlett got sick.

Animals are such a blessing! They give us so much emotional support and keep us motivated when the going gets tough.

Robin talks about kids coming up with ideas for initiatives for animals during Covid.

Buddy Bowls is an initiative that makes it easier for people to pick up food for their pets from shelters.

Robin discusses the community programs she is connected with, that help her with Buddy Bowls.

Robin explains what Scarly Squad is, what it does, and how it came about.

Scarlett had a mission from a very young age to rescue animals, and she had an impact on many people.

Robin explains what Draw for Paws is, how it started, and what it does.

Meals on Wheels has been dropping off food for animals too, lately.

Robin discusses the portraits that get done for Draw for Paws.

Robin talks about the way that people have been inspired and affected by Scarlett’s idea.

Robin explains how you can jump in and help.

BIO:

For over two decades, Robin Chwatko has developed and implemented communication and branding strategies for a wide range of clients, from startups to restaurants and chefs, politicians, consumer goods, television, arts organizations, and prestigious national and local non-profits. With a passion for philanthropy and community, she is most proud of the two charity organizations she has built with her children, comedy kids, and most recently draw for paws, in honor and memory of her daughter, with a mission to support animal welfare and rescue.

Links and resources:

Draw for Paws https://drawforpaws.org/ (website)

Robin on https://www.instagram.com/scarlysquad/ (Instagram)

Robin on https://twitter.com/scarlysquad (Twitter)

Email Robin at [email protected]

Today, I am happy to be speaking to Emily Gelb, who works at the Ashville Humane Society. Emily has helped expand community-based programs that aim to increase access to pet services in under-served communities. That includes helping people in crisis and finding ways for them to keep their pets at home. Having pets can be expensive. So, as part of my community project in the veterinary social work program, I also try to find helpful resources to assist low-income clients to keep their pets. I know how important animals are in people’s lives, so that project was important to me. In this episode, Emily shares many great ideas for how a community can come together to serve their people and pets in need. Stay tuned for more!

Like many others in the animal welfare field, Emily just fell into it. While serving in the Peace Corps, she volunteered at a vet clinic in a nearby city and worked with a grassroots dog rescue. When she returned from the Peace Corps, she met the north-east Regional Director with HSUS and ended up interning with her for several months. Through that internship, Emily learned about the range of different activities happening within the animal welfare field that she had no idea about before. When a Safety-Net Coordinator position opened up at Ashville Humane Society, it seemed like a perfect combination for her to get to help pets and people. Listen in today, to hear Emily’s story and find out about her great ideas for how communities can come together to provide solutions for people and their pets who are in need.

Show highlights:

Emily talks about how she got into the field of animal welfare.

Emily shares her interesting and unique experience with the Peace Corps in Ecuador and what she learned there.

Emily talks about her Ecuadorian jungle dog, Sisa.

Emily explains what led to her work with immigrant communities and people experiencing homelessness.

Looking at implicit bias around people giving their pets up to a shelter.

Emily explains how she started the Human-Animal Support Certificate program through the program at the University of Tennessee.

Emily talks about her community programs at Ashville Humane Society.

Addressing the complicated issues around animals going into shelters.

What Emily has had to do; to keep people and their animals safe from Covid.

The transportation of pets to vets is a barrier in some communities. Emily explains what is getting done to help people with that.

Talking about the programs and services that help people in crises with their pets.

Emily talks about the AlignCare program and explains what it does and how it is going.

Emily discusses all the different programs with which she works.

Emily defines what One Health is.

Bio:

Emily Gelb is the Director of Community Solutions at Asheville Humane Society. An NH native, she has worked at AHS for the last six years, and she has expanded the department to include multiple community-based programs aimed at increasing access to pet services in underserved communities, providing assistance for individuals in crisis, and keeping pets in homes. As a Returned Peace Corps volunteer, she is dedicated to using a participatory approach to community-based programming and is passionate about serving the immigrant community and individuals experiencing homelessness. Emily recently completed her Human-Animal Support certificate through UTK’s Veterinary Social Work program and is currently working with UT’s AlignCare program as a Veterinary Social Work Coordinator. Emily resides in Asheville, NC, with her beloved Ecuadorian jungle dog, Sisa, and Sundew, her recently adopted cat.

Links and resources:

Ashville Humane Society https://www.ashevillehumane.org/ (Website)

Today, I am excited to speak with our guest, Jeannine Moga. Jeannine is a licensed clinical social worker with specialties in veterinary social work, stress reduction, pet loss, and bereavement. She is also a veterinary social worker, and she has been an educator and consultant. She is joining me today to tell her story and talk about the work she does. Stay tuned for more!

Jeannine was one of my instructors at the University of Tennessee in the veterinary social work program. She has walked a long and winding path to get to where she is today. She started her veterinary social work training in 2002. After that, she worked full-time in the veterinary social work field in a veterinary hospital and then spent a fair amount of time working specifically in veterinary medicine and veterinary hospitals, doing an assortment of education and programming. Be sure to listen in today, to find out about the work that Jeannine does, using animal-assisted interventions.

Jeannine's Bio:

Jeannine is a licensed clinical social worker with specialties in veterinary social work, stress resilience, and grief and loss. She has developed and led two veterinary social work programs (Veterinary Social Services at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Medical Center, and Family and Community Services at NC State University’s Veterinary Hospital) and works with veterinary, animal welfare, and social services professionals across the country to address the intersections of human and animal health and well-being. Her interests include occupational well-being in service professions, the delivery and evaluation of animal-assisted interventions, and clinical bioethics/moral distress in veterinary practice. She maintains a private clinical and veterinary consulting practice in Southeast Virginia, serves as the Director of Ethics and Standards of Practice for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work, and is also the Chief Happiness Officer for VETgirl, a multimedia veterinary continuing education provider.

Show highlights:

Jeannine talks about how she got started in the field.

Jeannine talks about the many aspects of veterinary social work in which she has been involved.

How she engaged the community in interesting ways.

The main issues that come up for Jeannine to use the human/animal connection.

Opening a door for connection, as a clinician, by having animals.

The difference between animal-informed social work and veterinary social work.

Jeannine shares her pie-in-the-sky goal.

How animal-assisted interventions differ from animal-assisted social work.

Jeannine defines animal-assisted therapy.

Maximizing the specific use of animals in treatment planning.

How animals attune to their owners as compared with how an external animal attunes to someone.

Looking at dual relationships with animals.

Jeannine explains what bioethics and world distress mean.

Jeanine talks about VETgirl and explains what she does as the Chief Happiness Officer.

Links and resources:

VETgirl – http://www.vetgirlontherun.com (www.vetgirlontherun.com)

Jeannine’s clinical practice https://wholejourneywellness.com/ (website)

For consulting questions, email Jeannine at [email protected]