Support Human Animal Bond
CARE
Pet Loss Helpline: The Companion Animal Related Emotions (CARE)
Pet Loss Helpline is a confidential telephone service offered through the University
of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. People who are either
grieving the loss of a companion animal or are anticipating a loss are
encouraged to call. The Helpline provides owners with specific information
on grieving, euthanasia, children and pet loss, and meaningful ways to
memorialize their beloved animal friend. CARE Pet Loss Helpline is staffed
by veterinary students who understand the importance of the human-animal
bond and the emotions involved when that bond is threatened or altered.
The students receive training and ongoing supervision from a licensed social
worker.
A Pet's Place:
A Pet’s Place is
a “safe-haven” program founded by students
and faculty in the College in 2002. Few domestic violence shelters accept
pets and as a result victims of domestic abuse are forced to leave their
animals behind in potentially life threatening situations. A Pet’s
Place works to preserve the human-animal bond that is vulnerable during
situations of domestic violence and minimize the stress that is put on
the owner and the pet when that bond is threatened. This program partners
with two area domestic violence shelters to provide no-cost housing and
medical care for the pets of women living at the shelter.
Veterinary
Student Outreach Program: The Veterinary Student Outreach Program
(VSOP) consists of a group of veterinary students who are committed to
educating the public about the human-animal bond, as well as the basic
animal care necessary to maintain that bond. Some of their programs are
geared toward younger audiences and focus on topics such as: dog care
and responsible pet ownership, dog bite prevention, etc. They also
offer programs for undergraduate students, alumni, etc that concentrate
on certain aspects of veterinary medicine such as: the science of medicine
and the biology of wound healing.
Omega Tau Sigma nursing home visitation
program: Omega Tau Sigma, Theta Chapter, is a professional organization
of veterinary students at the University of Illinois. They strive
to strengthen the community's love of animals through community service
work. This organization works
to strengthen the human-animal bond through their monthly pet visitations
at local nursing homes. Each month members bring their pets to
local nursing homes to spend time with nursing home residents and enable
these residents to experience the mental and physical health benefits
of the human-animal bond. Additionally, this organization is involved
in an outreach program with local Boy Scout troops to help teach children
at a young age the importance of veterinary medicine and humane care.
Shelter medicine/CCHS/Anti-Cruelty Society
rotations: Partnering with Chicago's Animal Care and Control,
The AntiCruelty Society of Chicago, and the Champaign County Humane Society,
this course will provide a truly unique community veterinary practice
program for the low income populations of Chicago and Champaign County.
Clinical rotations at these facilities will expose veterinary students
to community practice through a low income clinic and shelter setting
and explore new ways of improving animal health and welfare, alleviating
animal suffering, abuse and abandonment, and protecting public health.
Owner
education talks at Anti-Cruelty Society: The Anti-Cruelty Society
is a Chicago-based organization that exists to prevent cruelty to animals
and to advance humane education. Since 2003, faculty experts from the
teaching hospital have also shared their knowledge with appreciative
audiences at the Anti-Cruelty Society through public education programs.
Talks have ranged from rehabilitation techniques for pets recovering
from surgery to dental health issues to advances in cardiology and cancer
care for animals.
Pet columns: These weekly articles
for pet owners focus on pet health issues, including updates on cutting-edge
research and medical treatments and advice on pet behavior and care.
The columns feature the expertise of Veterinary Teaching Hospital clinicians,
faculty and staff, and are featured in newspapers, magazines and pet-related
web sites across the United States and at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns.
Animal Behavior seminar: This
unique seminar is designed to examine the evolving roles of veterinarians,
trainers and shelters in the field of companion animal behavior and to
examine ways in which these professions can work together in communities.
The seminar is designed to unite veterinarians, trainers and shelters
in their common goal of providing quality behavior and training support
to pet owners.
Domestic Violence education : A
seminar entitled Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: The Cruel Connection
was held in 2004 for veterinarians, law enforcement officers, and domestic
violence and social workers. The conference addressed topics of intentional
abuse, the perspective of an animal investigation officer, laws against
animal violence, and how veterinarians can help in situations of suspected
animal or domestic violence. By working together, veterinarians, social
workers and law enforcement can combat the problems of animal abuse and
domestic violence.
Master
Pet Program: Although still in the preliminary planning stages,
this program will be modeled after the Master Gardeners program through
the University of Illinois Extension. The pet version of this program,
which is still yet to be officially named, will provide a network of
companion animal health programs and related activities to educate the
public. This program is being planned jointly with the Department of
Animal Sciences within the College of ACES, and will most likely be affiliated
with the University of Illinois Extension.
Humane Connection: The Humane
Connection Fund makes it possible for clinicians at the Veterinary Teaching
Hospital to go the extra mile in treatment of animal companions in order
to benefit both patients and their owners who may have limited means.
Companion Animal Memorial Fund: The
Companion Animal Memorial Fund, established in 1984, allows veterinarians
and others to express their compassion for grieving animal owners by
making donations in memory of their pet. Contributions totaling over
$775,000 have supported noninvasive projects at the College to improve
companion animal health as well as provided funds for the cancer unit,
for training veterinary dentists, and for our free, nationwide CARE Pet
Loss Helpline.