Week 1

Human Animal Bond

Explore types of human animal bond, including impact of support animals in the home (blind, hearing, medical alert dogs)

Equine therapy Pet therapy in hospitals and hospice environments

Dogs supporting ASD children

Pets in general

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explore the history of the human-animal bond and how it relates to pet companionship today

Understand different ways we utilise animals within our society and systems including support animals

Understand attachment theory and how this relates to animal companions

Explore how attachment theory might impact your own process in pet loss at work

Week 2

Types of Loss

Euthanasia

Terminal illness versus sudden death

Impact of accidents

Bereavement

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how euthanasia differs between species and the impacts of this

Explore the difference to pet companions when they die suddenly versus expectedly

Understand what bereavement looks like in different parts of the world and within different cultures

Explain how bereavement might affect clients in practice

Understand how bereavement might affect staff in practice

Week 3

Grief Models

Explore all types of grief

Disenfranchised and complicated grief which we often see in pet families

Different models of grief

Debunk the misunderstandings about the five stages of loss

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Define grief

Explore different types of grief and those most relevant to pet companionship

Review and understand Hubler-Ross five stages of grief model and when it is, and isn’t applicable

Understand more relevant grief models applicable to everyday life and loss

Week 4

Pet Loss in Different Stages

How children might understand pet loss is very different to the way an elderly person might experience pet loss

Family difficulties, including guilt, ‘being strong’ and ways of coping

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how children may be impacted by loss of a pet

Understand how elderly people may be impacted by loss of a pet

Understand how neurodiverse people may be impacted by loss of a pet

Explore how family units may come together to work through loss of their pet

Week 5

Memorials and Bereavement Rituals

Options for when pets die

Cremation versus burial

How people choose to say goodbye, memorials etc

Different cultures and their ways of celebrating life

Transitional objects

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain what the options are for end of life care within veterinary practice

Explore memorials in different cultures for pet loss

Understand how exploring these options may be helpful for clients

Understand transitional object theory and how this might help clients through pet loss

Week 6

Supporting Clients and Yourself

Communication with grieving clients including risk assessments and referral resources for clients needed extra support

Vicarious trauma in veterinary professionals and ways of coping and prevention

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explore ways of communicating with clients around pet loss so that you feel more confident doing so

Understand the importance of client safety, risk assessments and be confident where you can refer them for further help outside of the practice

Understand vicarious trauma and how this might look for you

Reflect on your coping strategies in practice and find new ways of supporting yourself and the team