W e believe that trained volunteers can help pet owners adjust to their losses. Time, understanding, support and compassion can help people learn how to cope with their emotions. Having someone to turn to, or someone who will listen, may be the first step to healing. Cornell used their guidelines in construction of our own hotline. The hotline is staffed by volunteer veterinary students who are trained by a professional grief counselor.
Volunteers regularly attend discussion meetings with faculty advisors.
These meetings assist hotline volunteers in dealing with the personal responses to grief and educate them to better serve the needs of callers. L iterature relating to pet loss and grief is maintained by the hotline and available for mailing to callers who request information. Articles about the human-animal bond and grief are provided for the education of student volunteers and, together with the experience from the hotline, help to prepare the students for the emotional side of veterinary practice. M any if not all of the veterinary student volunteers have experienced the loss of a beloved companion animal and are aware of the profound sadness and confusing emotions that can result. It is through the generosity of individuals, groups, veterinary practices and associations, private foundations, and pet-related industries that the hotline is made possible.