Pet Chaplain Learning

If you've ever grieved for a pet, you've probably heard people say, "Why are you so upset? It's just an animal." Comments like this are hurtful, especially when you're heartbroken for the loss of an animal you consider to be your soulmate. People who say things like this may be insensitive, but their perspective also reflects the world we live in. Although most people consider their pets valued members of their families, as a society we continue to minimize the grief people experience when they lose their pets. In fact, research shows that most pet keepers grieve alone because they worry that others will dismiss their feelings or accuse them of being overly emotional. Just an Animal offers a critical perspective on this phenomenon. Digging deep into the historical record, it explores the ideological foundations of a false narrative about animals that distorts reality and fails to reflect the powerful bonds millions of people share with their animal companions. It also chronicles how this outdated perspective is shifting as pet enthusiasts, animal healers and protectors, animal scientists, and spiritual leaders tell a new story about our fellow creatures that celebrates their remarkable intelligence, exquisite emotional sensitivity, and simple wisdom. If you've ever struggled to find sympathetic support after losing a cherished pet, this book will give you a fresh perspective on your experience and a deeper understanding of the social forces that have shaped your grief journey. You'll realize that you're not alone-that countless people just like you grieve intensely for their animal companions and that such grief is a fitting response to the loss of an important relationship. Just an Animal is the third book in the Pet Chaplain® Learning Series, a four-volume set that explores pet keeping and loss 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. Rob and his coauthor Karen Duke have practiced veterinary chaplaincy in community and clinical settings, and they've also taught veterinary chaplaincy worldwide. Visit petchaplain.com to learn more.

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® 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 organization to community settings such as homeless encampments. Praise for This Book "I have a library of spiritual care books, and none compare to the value of this one. It is clear, inclusive, gentle, wise, knowledgeable, and beautifully written. Decades of study and experience, reading and practice, learning and self-reflection have all come together in a deceptively simple and straightforward book." - Fran Prem Professional Chaplaincy Supervisor and Clinical Pastoral Educator Melbourne, Australia "Veterinary chaplaincy has been a transformative part of not just my professional life as a veterinarian, but also myself personally. I use what I've learned every day in every conversation with my clients. Helping people say goodbye to their pets is a complex and beautiful experience." - Christine Scott, DVM In-Home Euthanasia Specialist Detroit, Michigan Veterinary Chaplaincy is the final book in the Pet Chaplain® 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.