When you lose your best friend

Veterinary Pastoral Education - Bereavement Support - Training school in Raleigh

2233 The Circle, Raleigh, NC

Call (919) 213-0707Get directionsWhatsApp (919) 213-0707Message (919) 213-0707Contact UsGet Quote

Message sent. We'll get back to you soon.

Updates

Become a registered Pet Cha...

A registered Pet Chaplain® ...

From conducting a Pet Chape...

Apply now to become a regis...

Thank you for you...

Learn more

Are you mourning the loss o...

View All

Services

Training
- Registered Pet Chaplain®
  Become a registered Pet Chaplain® and provide veterinary pastoral care to people and their pets. Pastoral care is a proven model of emotional and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and traditions. The training program welcomes people of all faiths as well as atheists and agnostics. From critical reflection on their own and others' emotional and spiritual bonds with animals, students gain insight into the innate sympathetic concern humans feel for non-human animals. As part of a cohort, students will get the latest information in pet loss and grief and learn the necessary skills to support people struggling with the loss or imminent loss of an animal companion. Tuition and fees are waived for qualified applicants with an approved practice site.
Memorial Services
- Pet Chapel® Memorial
  A registered Pet Chaplain® will conduct a Blessing of the Animals for your church or community group, or a Pet Chapel® Memorial to honor the life of your special pet. Services are subject to chaplain availability in your area.

We can help

Pet Chaplain® is a nonprofit service that trains individuals and groups in veterinary pastoral care. We can train you and your staff to support people who grieve the loss of animals. You may study online to become a registered Pet Chaplain®. Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page to learn more.

Pastoral care is a proven model of emotional and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and religious traditions. We are an educational institute not a religious organization. We believe bereavement care should mirror the emotional and spiritual needs of grieving pet owners and veterinary staff.

James Herriot, British surgeon and author of All Creatures Great and Small, wrote, "If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans,” (Herriot 1986). And according to Veterinarian Susan Eddlestone: "The definition of spirit and soul in people for me often intertwine if you leave religion out. For animals...I do feel that there is a spirit and soul unique to that individual," (quoted in Ware 2018).

Do you grieve the loss of a special pet or other animal? Do you sometimes struggle for what to say to your clients, congregants, or community members when they grieve for animals? Do you or your staff experience compassion fatigue?

We will teach you about the human-animal bond and bereavement and train you to help others adapt to grief and loss. Our staff have clinical experience and more than 20 years pastoral practice. We offer online training paired with hands-on experience in veterinary pastoral care. We can assist you and your staff with your training needs.

Dr. Rob Gierka, Pet Chaplain®

Association for Veterinary Pastoral Education

info@avpe.org

Disclaimer: Chaplains supply the Association for Veterinary Pastoral Education (AVPE) with information about their education, professional experience and character. The AVPE reviews, but does not routinely verify information supplied by chaplains for posting on the AVPE web site. The AVPE conducts cursory reference checks on chaplains. The AVPE recommends that parties contact chaplains directly to review their qualifications with them.