Veterinary Social Worker
About Veterinary Social Work at Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital
The bond we share with our animals can have a profound impact on our mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. For many people, pets are family, which means a serious illness, injury or loss can affect much more than the pet alone.
At BBVSH, our registered social worker is part of the hospital team, providing emotional support and counselling alongside a pet’s veterinary care. This recognizes an important part of the human-animal bond: caring for a patient can also mean supporting the people who love them.
Find Out More
About these Vet Social Worker services offered at Boundary Bay
How Our Veterinary Social Worker Can Support You
Specialty and emergency veterinary care can involve unexpected diagnoses, complex medical information, difficult decisions and, sometimes, the loss of a pet. Families may also arrive with other stresses and circumstances in their lives, making an already difficult experience feel overwhelming.
There is no single way to respond to a pet’s illness, injury or loss. Our veterinary social worker provides a safe space to talk, process what you are experiencing and receive emotional support. This may include support with:
- The stress of a pet’s serious illness, injury or hospitalization
- Difficult or emotional decisions about a pet’s care
- End-of-life decisions
- Anticipatory grief
- Grief and pet loss
- Emotional distress during a difficult veterinary experience
Support will look different for each person. Sometimes that means talking through a difficult decision or preparing for a loss. Other times, it may simply mean having someone available to listen.
Veterinary social work complements the medical care provided by your pet’s veterinary team. While your veterinary team provides information and guidance about your pet’s condition and treatment, the social worker can support you through the emotional aspects of the experience.
Accessing Veterinary Social Work Support at BBVSH
Veterinary social work is available at no additional charge as part of your pet’s care at BBVSH.
Our registered social worker works alongside the hospital team to provide support when the need arises. If you feel you could benefit from this support while your pet is receiving care at BBVSH, please speak with a member of your pet’s care team about connecting with our veterinary social worker.
Why the Human-Animal Bond Matters During Illness and Loss
Our relationships with animals can be deeply connected to our everyday lives and well-being. They can be companions, sources of comfort and important members of our families.
When a pet becomes seriously ill or dies, the emotional impact can be significant. Veterinary social work recognizes that connection and brings support for the human experience into the veterinary hospital alongside the medical care being provided to the patient.
How Our Veterinary Social Worker Supports the BBVSH Team
Our registered social worker is also here for the veterinary professionals who care for BBVSH patients and their families.
Working in specialty and emergency veterinary medicine can involve long hours, life-and-death situations, difficult cases and supporting families during highly emotional experiences. Our social worker provides counselling and a safe space for team members to talk about workplace stress and the emotional demands of veterinary medicine.
The role also includes education and support around compassion fatigue, burnout and empathy fatigue, helping team members better understand and manage some of the emotional pressures that can come with veterinary work.
Vet Social Worker Services
Offered at boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital
Meet Our Vet Social Worker Team Members
"So much of my job is just giving people permission to feel what they're feeling, whether that's grief, guilt, or relief. Pet owners are making some of the hardest decisions of their lives here, often on very little sleep, and my role is to make sure they don't have to make those decisions alone."
– Kai Paulton
Choose Boundary Bay for Veterinary Social Worker
Grief Support
Available When You Need Us
Help Navigating Difficult Decisions
Support for the Whole Family
Connection to Community Resources
Experience Working Alongside Specialists
A Judgment-Free Space to Process Emotions
Continued Support After Your Pet Passes
Blog Posts Related to This Service
Coping with Pet Loss: Resources for Grieving Owners
Our Code of Conduct
we love animals
If your pet is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, come directly to our hospital.
Walk-ins are welcome; no appointment is required.
If you are able, call ahead and let us know you are coming.
Our phone number is (604) 514-8383
More Reasons to Entrust Your Pet to Us
There are so many reasons to bring your pet to us for specialty services or an emergency. Here are our top seven.
