Grief counseling for horse and pet owners now available

Edited Press Release

When a person suffers the loss of a loved one, they have many options for grief counseling to help them work through their emotions. However, very few resources exist for people who lose their beloved companion animals, like dogs, cats or horses. Together In Grief, Easing Recovery (TIGER) is a new program in the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine designed to help people work through their unique emotions after losing their pets.

Francesca Tocco, a doctoral student in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and the MU Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI), uses her background in social work to help pet owners come to terms with their grief as well as prepare veterinary medicine students for working with grieving clients.

“Companion animals make a strong and lasting mark on the lives of their human counterparts,” Tocco said. “This bond does not disappear when those animals pass away. Strong emotional and physical reactions such as grief, pain, shock, anxiety and guilt are healthy and normal. These reactions can often be overwhelming, which is why TIGER strives to provide assistance and support to those going through this difficult time.”

The TIGER program, which is free to clients of the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, can assist with many aspects of companion animal loss, including:

• End of life concerns such as euthanasia
• Moral and ethical concerns related to animal health care
• Family counseling
• Grief in anticipation of an animal’s death
• How to talk to children about animal health and death
• Ways to memorialize the special bond with a companion animal
• Resources to help people cope with the loss of an animal
• Grief counseling
• Training for veterinary clinicians and students

Rebecca Johnson, director of ReCHAI and a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and MU Sinclair School of Nursing, says this program provides a chance to put research into action.

“The TIGER program is a great opportunity for the researchers at ReCHAI to assist clients at the MU Veterinary Teaching Hospital with the difficult decisions and circumstances they often face surrounding the death of beloved pets,” Johnson said. “The program aims to help people during these difficult experiences, and also to assist doctors and students at the VMTH in helping their clients.

The TIGER program is supported by the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and a donation from William Canney, an alumnus of MU. For more information about the TIGER program and to inquire about services, contact them at mucvmvmthgriefsupport@missouri.edu.

Further Reading
Coping with Loss
Dealing with the Loss of a Horse
End-of-Life Options for Horses