Exploring the Grief Experience Among Callers to a Pet Loss Support Hotline

Rémillard, Liam; Meehan, Michael; Kelton, D.F.; Coe, Jason B.

doi:10.1080/08927936.2017.1270600

Cited by 27 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Conversely, when a ‘good death’ was not successfully or wholly achieved, participants felt a client's experience could be detrimentally affected. These findings support previous research which suggests that how euthanasia care is handled by veterinary professionals can impact a client's emotions and grief experience 5 10 27 …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Enactment of these roles are contingent on veterinary professionals proficiently utilising numerous skills including high‐quality technical skills, being capable and empathetic communicators and being able to meaningfully address the emotional or supportive needs of the client(s) 6 8 . Unsuccessful execution of any of the roles or the skills underpinning them can have serious implications for both the client and veterinary professionals 9 10 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of the process and decision‐making around companion animal euthanasia on veterinary wellbeing

et al. 2019

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A qualitative study using group and individual interviews involving 10 veterinary hospitals in Wellington County, Ontario, explored how the practices involved in euthanasia-related care impacts the wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Thematic analysis indicated two major outcomes: the goal and desire of veterinary professionals was to facilitate a 'good death' for the companion animal and navigating the euthanasia decision process was more challenging than the actual event of performing euthanasia. When successful in achieving a 'good death' and navigating euthanasia decisions, participants reported feeling that their own sense of wellbeing and the veterinary client's sense of wellbeing were improved. When unsuccessful, participants reported experiencing a reduced sense of wellbeing, reduced job satisfaction, increased emotional strain and feeling that the client was also detrimentally impacted. For many participants, navigating euthanasia decision-making consultations was seen as a greater challenge and a greater contributor to a reduced sense of wellbeing than the act of euthanasia itself. These findings suggest that there is a need for greater attention and support for veterinary professionals, particularly when navigating euthanasia decision-making consultations. Additional training and resources on navigating euthanasia consultations may assist in improving the wellbeing for veterinary professionals and the companion animals and owners under their care. Ethics approvalThe study protocol was reviewed and approved by the University of Guelph Research Ethics Board (REB#14MY006) for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants.Data availability statement Data are available upon request.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of the process and decision‐making around companion animal euthanasia on veterinary wellbeing

et al. 2019

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“…Grief over the loss of a pet is a broad, complex construct, which can be complicated by pet owners’ perceptions that they have minimal social support sources and negative veterinary interactions (Rémillard, Meehan, Kelton, & Coe, 2017 ). The loss of a pet through death or disappearance, and the decisions inherent in determining whether euthanasia of a beloved animal companion is necessary and appropriate, can generate significant emotional trauma for human members of families as well as staffs of veterinary facilities and animal shelters (see, e.g., Barnard-Nguyen, Breit, Anderson, & Nielsen, 2016 ; Carmack, 2003 ; Dunn, Mehler, & Greenberg, 2005 ; Laing & Maylea, 2018 ; Miller, Prout, Rourke, Lefkowitz, & Boyer, 2014 ; Ross, 2005 ).…”

Section: The Significance Of Human–animal Relationships For Social Womentioning

confidence: 99%

Human–Animal Relationships and Social Work: Opportunities Beyond the Veterinary Environment

Arkow

2020

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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A species-spanning approach that incorporates clients' relationships with their companion animals into family genograms, schools of social work curricula, continuing education, interviews, assessments, and interventions offers increased career opportunities, professional and personal growth and development, and a more comprehensive resolution of clients' issues, social justice concerns, and the prevention of family violence. This article identifies six reasons why social workers should be cognizant of human-animal relationships and introduces nine ways, with action steps, in which social workers can include these relationships into training and practice outside the more developed field of veterinary social work. These venues include: agencies working in child protection and child sexual abuse; children's advocacy centers and courthouse facility dogs; animal shelters; domestic violence shelters; public policy advocacy; clinical practice; agencies working with older and disabled populations; veterinary sentinels for intimate partner violence; and pet support services for homeless populations. Such attention to the human-animal bond can utilize social workers' problem-solving skills to improve delivery of services, identify clients' risk and resiliency factors, enhance social and environmental justice, expand academic inquiry, and increase attention to all of the vulnerable members of families and communities.

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“…With respect to coping with companion animal loss after euthanasia, most participants (74.7%) noted that they mourned privately. Previous research has demonstrated that bereaved companion animal owners frequently practice emotional distancing and social isolation [27,37]. Bereaved companion animal owners struggling with their emotions may tend to avoid others while processing their experience [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A National Survey of Companion Animal Owners’ Self-Reported Methods of Coping Following Euthanasia

Park

Royal

2020

Veterinary Sciences

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(1) Background: The human–animal bond is often regarded as a special relationship in which owners benefit from unconditional love and perceived understanding from their companion animal. Thus, end-of-life decisions such as euthanasia may inflict significant emotional impact upon the companion animal owner and result in a complicated grief response. The purpose of this study was to examine the methods American companion animal owners utilize to cope with loss following companion animal euthanasia. (2) Methods: A total of 340 companion animal owners with experience euthanizing a companion animal completed an online survey asking how they found comfort after the loss of their companion animal. (3) Results: A total of 74.7% noted that they mourned privately, 58.2% sought social support, 32.1% adopted a new companion animal, 12.4% relied on faith or prayer and 0.9% participated in a support group. (4) Conclusions: Grief associated with companion animal loss is important. As a majority of clients that euthanized their companion animal mourn privately, the veterinary community must work towards identifying and providing appropriate, accessible social resources for bereaved companion animal owners to utilize, if desired.

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Exploring the Grief Experience Among Callers to a Pet Loss Support Hotline

Cited by 27 publications

References 30 publications

Impacts of the process and decision‐making around companion animal euthanasia on veterinary wellbeing

Impacts of the process and decision‐making around companion animal euthanasia on veterinary wellbeing

Human–Animal Relationships and Social Work: Opportunities Beyond the Veterinary Environment

A National Survey of Companion Animal Owners’ Self-Reported Methods of Coping Following Euthanasia

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