Author Description

Introducing the first-ever textbook in veterinary chaplaincy, a new field of spiritual care focused on the unique needs of the pet-keeping community.<br/><br/>Losing a beloved animal companion can be heartbreaking. Yet many of us struggle to find the emotional and spiritual support we need when we lose a pet. Veterinary Chaplaincy: Interfaith Spiritual Care for Pet Loss is a response to this abiding need.<br/><br/>This groundbreaking book is based on the scholarship and hands-on experience of Pet Chaplain® founder and chaplaincy educator Rob Gierka, EdD, who has been practicing and studying as a pet chaplain in community and clinical settings for more than twenty years.<br/><br/>It offers a foundational education in the principles of veterinary chaplaincy and practical tools you can use to support pet keepers in clinical and community settings. Veterinary Chaplaincy is a call to action for anyone interested in this work, including professional caregivers, people who work or volunteer in the animal care and services industry, and everyday people who wish to provide spiritually-inclusive support to their family and friends. Key topics include: An exploration of six key competencies for veterinary chaplaincy. A review of the guiding principles of interfaith spiritual care. A discussion 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 religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. We also review the core beliefs of 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 are unique to the pet keeping world that you may find emotionally and ethically challenging. Tips for creating memorials, rituals, prayer