New program at UF veterinary college offers support to animal owners in coping with illness or death of a pet

Nobody understands better than a veterinarian the significance of the human-animal bond. The University of Florida Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital buzzes with people whose devotion to their pets pulls them out of bed in the wee hours when emergency care is needed, or who perch for endless hours on waiting room chairs.

Recognizing the role of the veterinarian as “keepers of the human-animal bond,” the UF College of Veterinary Medicine has implemented a new program to strengthen this relationship. The program, offered at no cost to clients of UF’s small and large animal hospitals, will offer on-site support services to individuals in coping with the illness, treatment or death of a pet. One of its key purposes is to better train faculty, residents, staff and students to relate effectively to pet owners, particularly in times of crisis. In addition, a pet loss support group, open to all members of the community, has been formed and meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

Joy Dias, a doctoral student in UF’s College of Education, is a counselor with the program, which was envisioned by Dr. Leslie Fox, an associate professor in the veterinary college’s department of small animal clinical sciences. Fox and Dias are collaborating in the program, with assistance from a collegewide committee. CVM Companions is loosely modeled after a program at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Dias said.

CVM Companions has a twofold mission: First, it serves as consolation to clients who are faced with difficult decisions or the loss of their pet. Dias said her counseling focuses on the relationship humans have with their animals.

“It’s best to really acknowledge that the bond exists and that a lot of emotions go into any threat to that bond,” she said. “I’ve had clients tell me that losing a pet was just as bad as losing any family member.”

Dias offers consultations both by phone and on-site inside the cozy, dimly lit quiet room off the main waiting room in the teaching hospital. Clients who seek her help can expect to benefit from her guidance through difficult decision-making processes and the aftermath of loss.

The second mission of CVM Companions is training students, interns and residents to communicate effectively with clients, especially in crises.

Fox, a veterinary oncologist, sees many critical cases – and devastated pet owners.

She said it’s beneficial for students to learn how to help clients – and themselves – cope with the stressful, crucial moments.

“In veterinary practices, it’s ideal to have more effective communication and support,” she said. “It reduces stress and the lifetime burden, the accumulative stress of making decisions during emotional times.”

Dias and Fox are planning to add an elective course, “Supporting the Human-Animal Bond,” to the veterinary school curriculum. The goal is to give students a chance to work through cases by means of role playing -- to imbue them with skills that will come in handy when they enter the profession.

“Students will be given techniques for interacting with clients who are anxious, upset or confused about their pet, as well as information on how to meet their client’s emotional needs during these times,” Dias said.

CVM Companions was initiated with funding from the Pepper Dismuke Memorial Fund, which was created with a donation from a client whose dog, Pepper, had cancer and was treated at UF. Fox said she hopes the program attracts more funding to help develop the course. She plans to expand the counselor base to two, full-time counselors.