CONTACT US

Phone: 540-231-5977
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Email: vswsupport@vt.edu
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Veterinary Social Work Service
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
245 Duck Pond Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Care for the human-animal bond

Recognizing that our animals are a beloved part of our lives, VA-MD Vet Med's Veterinary Social Work Service is available to help clients navigate every step of their pet’s care. Similar to hospital or medical social workers in other health care settings, this service may include talking through treatment options, facilitating communication, or offering support for decision-making.

Consultations and appointments

Services Offered

Similar to hospital or medical social workers in other health care settings, the veterinary social work service is available to help you navigate every step of your pet’s care. Clients may receive support from the veterinary social worker in a variety of ways:

  • As a liaison between you and your veterinary care team
  • To facilitate decision-making
  • To assist during crisis
  • To help in making quality-of-life assessments
  • In euthanasia decision-making
  • For support before, during, and/or after euthanasia
  • As support for discussions with children
  • Grief support
Confidential consultation is available with a licensed mental health provider at no cost to Veterinary Teaching Hospital clients. You may ask your veterinary team for a referral, or you may contact the veterinary social worker directly by email at vswsupport@vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-5977. Confidential consultation is provided within limits regarding legal or ethical exceptions to confidentiality.

Animal Owner Support Groups

Remembering the Bond

This group is designed for families and individuals who have lost their pet in the last 4-12 months and are looking for additional support to navigate this loss.  In this group members will connect with others that are also naviaging the loss. The goal is to share and connect with those that understand the loss of a pet, and to walk away with new tools in how to manage the new normal after the death.  

This group is held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6:30-7:30pm.

2024 Meetings

  • Jan 10, 2024
  • Feb 14, 2024
  • Mar 13, 2024
  • Apr 10, 2024
  • May 8, 2024
  • Jun 12, 2024
  • Jul 10, 2024
  • Aug 14, 2024
  • Sep 11, 2024
  • Oct 9, 2024
  • Nov 13, 2024
  • Dec 11, 2024 

Caring for All Species 

This group is created for those families and individuals caring for an aging and ailing pet. It is open to any client of the Teaching Hospital. Many of us don't have a safe place to talk about the stressors of caring of a pet that may need around the clock care, so we created this group. The goal of this group is to help navigate caregiver burnout, and to connect with others so that ideas and support can be shared. 

The group is held on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 6:30pm-7:30pm.

2024 Meetings    

  • Jan 24, 2024
  • Feb 28, 2024
  • Mar 27, 2024
  • Apr 24, 2024
  • May 22, 2024
  • Jun 26, 2024
  • Jul 24, 2024
  • Aug 28, 2024
  • Sep 25, 2024
  • Oct 23, 2024
  • Nov 27, 2024 

Memorialization

Bi-Annual remembrance ceremony

An bi-annual remembrance ceremony to celebrate the lives of beloved animals will be hosted in in person at the hospital to gather with others sharing similar experiences, hear from a speaker with words of healing, create a remembrance item, and view a slideshow of your beloved animals.

The next ceromony will be in the Spring of 2024. 

If you would like to participate in the bi-annual remembrance ceremony, please contact the veterinary social worker by email at vswsupport@vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-5977.

Make a gift

You may also choose to memorialize an animal by supporting the college with an online donation.

Care for the humans who care for animals in Virginia's New River Valley

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    Veterinary Social Work at Virginia Tech , home

    This resource blog was established in March 2020, in response to the evolving needs of humans in the New River Valley area experiencing challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As time permits, resources are compiled and shared by veterinary social workers at VA-MD Vet Med.