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In her years spent as a registered veterinary technician with the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association, Dal Master of Social Work (MSW) graduate Kathleen Dunbar witnessed the need for grief support among companion animal caregivers experiencing companion animal loss. Moreover, she noticed a lack of support for veterinarians and veterinary support staff experiencing ethical distress, moral distress and burnout due to the emotional labour of their profession.

 “People grieving companion animals often experience disenfranchised grief — a grief that is not publicly and socially recognized. When their grief isn’t openly recognized, the bereaved are at risk of feeling shame and/or isolation,” Dunbar says.

Aiming to bridge the gap between veterinary medicine and social work practices, Dunbar expressed her desire to combine the two fields in her application to Dal’s MSW program. She went on to study veterinary social work (VSW) in her first MSW placement, under the supervision of Sarah Bernardi, social worker and clinical counsellor at the Ontario Veterinary College. She spent her second placement at the SPCA Veterinary Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Cassandra Hanrahan, associate professor in the School of Social Work (SSW), and Winnie Grant, adjunct professor in the SSW. Dr. Hanrahan has been writing and conducting research for more than a decade about why animals matter in social work, raising awareness about the benefits of human animal bonds, the Link between animal cruelty and other forms of human violence, and animal assisted interventions.

Before Dunbar joined the MSW program, the SSW had yet to mentor a student with VSW-specific interests, and the SPCA Veterinary Hospital had never taken on a social work student before. With the support of MSW Field Education Coordinator Rose Scott, Dr. Hanrahan, and Grant, Dunbar contacted the SPCA Veterinary Hospital to obtain her placement.

Dr. Hanrahan says that the four focus areas in VSW provide direction for the innovative expansion of the social work scope of theory, practice, and policy: evidence-based animal-assisted interventions (AAI), grief and companion animal loss, the Link, and compassion fatigue/mental health/conflict management.

“In terms of grief and companion animal loss, by acknowledging people’s bereavement and supporting their loss of a relationship and bond with their companion animal, we offset what is called ‘disenfranchised grief’– grief that is not recognized by others, and as such negatively impacts the bereaved, leaving them feeling even more alone and grief-stricken. By honouring people’s relationships with their companion animals, and leveraging human animal bonds, we can create a ripple effect, and support people more broadly in their journeys to wellbeing,” Dr. Hanrahan says.

In addition to supporting the holistic well-being of individuals, veterinary social work has significant larger-scale impacts.

“In the face of a global shortage of veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians, veterinary social workers can assume some of the duties traditionally assigned to veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians. Specifically, vet social workers can support vet clients with end-of-life care, decision-making, discussions around euthanasia, grief and loss, or any client in distress. This is beneficial because vet social workers have specialized training and are well-equipped to carry the emotional labour of the veterinary industry,” Dunbar says.

On an economic level, VSW aids to stimulate local business growth, as its interdisciplinary focus promotes collaboration among multiple professional sectors and community organizations. VSW also has various ecological benefits.

“VSW and the broader field of study called Critical Animal Studies, helps people to think beyond the humanistic framework; to foster greater compassion and generosity towards our shared environments. It opens people up to thinking more ethically, and more relationally,” Dr. Hanrahan says.

Shortly after graduating from Dal’s MSW program, Dunbar started her new role as veterinary social worker at Carnegy Veterinary Hospital in Halifax. Holding social work entitlements in all Atlantic provinces, Dunbar is often approached by different veterinary hospitals and clients seeking VSW services.

Dunbar and Dr. Hanrahan are hopeful for VSW’s innovative future. As veterinary social work gains popularity in Canada as in around the world, they hope to one day see collaborations between schools of social work and veterinary medicine.

More info on advancements in veterinary social work:

• International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations
• International Association of Veterinary Social Work
• Human Animal Bond Research Institute
• The National Link Coalition