Veterinary Chaplaincy: Interfaith Spiritual Care for Pet Loss - Paperback

by Robert E. Gierka (Author), Karen Duke (Author)

Introducing the first-ever textbook in veterinary chaplaincy, a new field of spiritual care focused on the unique needs of the pet-keeping community. Based on the scholarship and hands-on experience of Pet Chaplain(R) founder and chaplaincy educator Rob Gierka, EdD, this groundbreaking book offers a foundational education in the principles of interfaith spiritual care for pet loss and practical tools you can use to support pet keepers in clinical and community settings. Veterinary Chaplaincy is a call to action for professional caregivers, people who work or volunteer in the animal care and services industry, and everyday people who wish to provide spiritually inclusive comfort and support to their family and friends.

Key Topics

• An exploration of six key competencies for veterinary chaplaincy.
• An overview of the guiding principles of interfaith spiritual care.
• A detailed analysis of how people make meaning in life, which is the special purview of spiritual care.
• An overview of teachings and beliefs about animals in five of the world's mainstream religious institutions as well as alternative spiritual traditions, from earth-focused practices such as Wicca to humanism and atheism.
• Best practices for spiritual care, including guidance for engaging in pastoral conversations with people in emotional and spiritual crisis.
• A discussion of those situations that you may find emotionally and ethically challenging.
• Tips for creating memorials, rituals, prayers, and reflections that honor animal lives.
• A review of opportunities for practice in a variety of settings where animals and people interact, from veterinary clinics and rescue organizations to community settings such as homeless encampments.

Veterinary Chaplaincy is the final book in the Pet Chaplain(R) Learning Series, a four-volume set that explores pet keeping and loss in the modern West and offers instruction in interfaith spiritual care for pet loss. The series is the brainchild of Rob Gierka, EdD, who founded Pet Chaplain, a community service and educational organization, in 2004. A pioneer in the emerging field of interfaith spiritual care for pet loss, Dr. Gierka has served pet keepers and veterinary workers in both clinical and community settings. Visit petchaplain.com to learn more.