The Companions Collective Angela Schneider

Things are going to change around here.

Said not in the tone my father used to say those words ...

The topics of grief, loss and pet loss grief are heavy, and I understand that not every episode is easy to listen to, especially if you're in grief.

It's taken its toll on me too.

To care better care of myself, we're rebranding from One Last Network to The Companions Collective and diversifying the content we're going to offer.

Look forward to discussions on a broader range of pet-related topics, including the profound connection between human and companion animal and the incredible projects my professional pet photographer friends are using to change the world.

Let's emBARK on this next stage of the journey!


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/support

Lynn Sehnert of Lance and Lili Photography covering the Washington, D.C., area takes the mic today and interviews Jessey Scheip, a licensed veterinary technician with a
specialty in behavior.

Jessey also has training certification from the Karen Pryor Academy and has worked with Dr. Amy Pike of the Animal Behavior Wellness Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

That's where Lynn met Jessey, looking for help with her sweet boy Lance.

Jessey enjoys teaching pet guardians how to understand their pets and how to use behavior principles to ensure they grow together and live their best lives together.

Today, Lynn and Jessey have an in-depth discussion about canine cognitive disorder.

What to listen for


How Jessey fills a void between veterinary behaviorists and standard trainers
What symptoms should pet guardians watch for to notice CCD
Why pet guardians should track their pets' health changes
Treatment options for canine cognitive dysfunction
When to decide it's time to say goodbye

Where to find Jessey

Mindful Mentor Behavior Consulting

Facebook

Other episodes you may find interesting

The Art of Balancing Behavior Issues, part 1, with Dr. Kyle Bohland

The Art of Balancing Behavior Issues, part 2, with Dr. Kyle Bohland

The Art of Aging Gracefully with Dr. Dennis Wormald




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/support

You may have heard of animal chaplains.

They are spiritual caregivers who provide support and comfort to individuals who are grieving the loss of a beloved companion animal or who are facing difficult decisions related to their pets' health and wellbeing.

And then there's Scott Campbell, veterinary chaplain.

Veterinary chaplains are rare in the United States. Scott is one of just a handful of these trained professionals who provide emotional and spiritual support to veterinary staff, in addition to pet guardians and the animals in veterinary settings.

There are even fewer of them affiliated with a university, and Scott practices his craft at Washington State University, just down the road from me in Pullman, Washington.

A veterinary chaplain's role may seem similar to that of a chaplain in human healthcare but individuals like Scott focus specifically on the unique challenges and emotional experiences within the veterinary medicine realm.

Scott joins me on the podcast today to share his journey into veterinary chaplaincy and his passion for supporting the emotional well-being of pets, pet guardians and the world-class team at WSU, affectionately known in these parts as WAZZU.

We talk about the challenges faced by the veterinary profession, including its high suicide rates, and how his own experiences are motivating him to establish the American Association for Veterinary Chaplains.

Have a listen as Scott shares how he aims to alleviate the emotional burdens of the veterinary community and foster healing for those of us who suffer as our companion animals need care.

What to listen for


How Scott ensures WSU clients feel comfortable and heard
Why a veterinary chaplain must be prepared to address a variety of belief structures
The evolution of companion animals as family members in society
What Scott finds more rewarding about veterinary chaplaincy

Scott hosts a series of events called Celebration of Life and Remembrance for our Animal Companions for pet guardians to grieve and honor the lives of their precious babes. The event will feature a Remembrance Garland Ceremony, during which participants write messages on ribbons and attach them to a garland that's hung outside the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at WSU in Pullman.

The next one is set for Saturday, April 13, at the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center. It starts at 10:30 a.m., doors open at 10 a.m. and Scott suggests it's a good idea to arrive early to prepare a ribbon for the garland.

A social hour follows from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/support

Are we doing better? And can we do better yet?

These are the questions I had for Dr. Dani McVety, the cofounder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and In-Home Euthanasia with Dr. Mary Gardner. Lap of Love is a national network of veterinary doctors who offer hospice care and peaceful euthanasia in the comfort of a pet's home.

When Dani was prepping a family for a euthanasia one night at the emergency clinic where she was working shortly after graduating from veterinary school, her client said, "Please, can you leave her on my lap? I don't want her on that cold sterile table. I want her right here with me."

That wasn't clinic policy, though.

Dani said yes. And it was at that moment, she knew that's what every pet deserves, to be in the place where they are most comfortable … their guardian's lap.

Lap of Love was born, and now 15 years later, Dani and her cofounder are advocates for ways the veterinary world can improve the euthanasia process for pets and their
families.

After all, the word "euthanasia" is Greek for "eu," or easy, and "thanatos," or death.

Easy death.

Let's find out what that really means.

What to listen for


How end of life care has evolved for veterinarians
The importance of honoring a pet's journey
Why pet guardians need a comfortable, supportive space
How a better experience can shift the end of life process
Normalizing hospice care in veterinary medicine

Where to find Dr. Dani McVety

Lap of Love

Dr. Dani McVety (for speaking engagements)

Lap of Love Facebook

Lap of Love Instagram

Lap of Love YouTube




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/support

I've struggled a while with addressing this topic.

I don't have human children, never wanted one. So who was I to host a podcast on how to talk to kids about the family pet dying?

But I remembered that all I had to do was put on my old journalist hat and ask the right questions.

First question: who can answer those questions?

Of course, my good friend Coleen Ellis of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center can. Coleen is also my mentor in pet loss grief companioning.

With Dr. Mary Gardner, cofounder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, Coleen has written two books to guide children through their grief. Both are called "My Forever Friend."

One is for saying goodbye to a special dog and the other for saying goodbye to a special cat. Each one contains activities for parents and children to work through together.

Coleen, who also doesn't have skin children, a term I learned from Coleen, is quite easily the kind of person you can trust to accompany your kids on this grief journey.

She's dynamic and engaging and most importantly empathetic and compassionate.

What to listen for


How Coleen guides children through their grief with a collaborative, empathetic approach
The importance of letting children grieve and process their emotions their own way
Why we should use clear language when discussing death with children
Involving children in the planning for and day of euthanasia

Where to find Coleen

Coleen Rocks

Two Hearts Pet Loss Center

Forever Friend: A children's guide and activity book for saying goodbye to a special dog (Amazon)

Forever Friend: A children's guide and activity book for saying goodbye to a special cat




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/support

Losing a pet is a profound experience that often leaves us grappling with overwhelming emotions.
Today, I'm giving you permission to cry on your journey of pet loss grief and standing up for the need to normalize grieving for a pet.

In a world that often tells us to toughen up and hide our emotions, it's time to challenge the stigma surrounding tears, especially when it comes to grieving the loss of a
beloved pet.

Let's dive into the significance of allowing ourselves to cry and the importance of normalizing the grief experienced over the death of a furry companion.

What to listen for


Your permission to cry
What I learned as a child about crying
Tears as natural detox
How society suppresses our grief over losing a pet
A path to healing the world


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecompanionscollective/support