Speaking at the Vet Tech Seminar in Rochester
We recently returned from a speaking engagement (image above) for a wonderful group of veterinary technicians in Rochester, Minnesota. The group was diverse. Students mixed together with experienced vet techs. The subject we spoke about was pet loss -- something a veterinarian or vet tech has to deal with every day in the larger clinics and hospitals.
Lively discussions tinged with tears and laughter rounded out the points we made and stories we all shared. Afterwards, we mentioned to someone that it made us feel fulfilled to know that this group now would be more informed about a subject that is rarely covered in training for their vocation. She said, "We spent one hour on pet
loss as part of my training!"
Now that we live in an era where animals are family members, it seems like an important aspect of vet training for the people who will interact with grieving and despairing people to open up exchanges about what helps and what hurts.
What do you think?
Posted by Allen and Linda Anderson at 11/2/2007 11:04 AM 
Categories: Angel Animals Presentation, Healing from Pet Loss, Rainbows & Bridges Presentation, Animal Organizations
Categories: Angel Animals Presentation, Healing from Pet Loss, Rainbows & Bridges Presentation, Animal Organizations
Having been a vet tech. for a few years I believe that nothing but experience can show you how to help owners let there animals go. We as a group would go in, if the owner wanted, one of us would put an arm around the owner. We would find ourselves all crying and sharing in the owner's grief. We received more thank-you cards for our caring while their pets were leaving than we ever did when the pets got to go home hearty and happy.
We always made sure the pets had a nice fluffy blanket to lay on, that the entire hospital would be on the alert to be quite and respectful.
I don't believe that you can train any one to be caring toward others. We have always treated owners as we would what to be treated. Knowing that we all understood the pain and loss that they were going through. As we have all experienced it. I think most importantly to let them know one of two things 1) they are not veterinarians so they could not have know what the problem was, and 2) they could call or come by anytime (many did). If I could put my finger on any thing it was the tears they saw in our own eyes that meant the most. You can't teach that.
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