"Looking at the animal in isolation, out of the context of the family, is a mistake."
      ---Michael Blackwell, D.V.M., former Assistant Surgeon General of the United States; Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Tuskegee University

"The bond between people and animals is the primary basis for our professional existence."
      ---Leo Bustad, D.V.M., Former Dean Emeritus of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the first president of the Delta Society.

"The importance of the human-animal bond is finally being recognized openly by the veterinary profession and by the field of veterinary medical education. As best I can recall, none of my professors from 1967 to 1971 told my classmates or me to acknowledge the needs of our clients as well as the needs of our patients. After graduation, we learned by trial and error that our compassion for our clients---not just for our patients---determined our success and professional satisfaction."
      ---Caroline B. Schaffer, D.V.M., Director, Center for the Study of Human-Animal Interdependent Relationships, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Tuskegee University

"Ms. Jones does not care what the problem means to us. Nor does she particularly care what the problem may mean to Spotty's liver or heart, either. She wants to know what the problem will mean to her animal and to herself. What medical professionals see as clinical signs of medical problems, clients often see as changes in their animals' behavior. Entwined with these behavioral changes are changes in the human-animal relationship. For example, when Spotty awakens Ms. Jones with his coughing in the middle of the night, the disruption angers her and she yells at him to stop it. When the coughing persists, the memory of her angry outburst makes her feel guilty. When Spotty continues coughing, worry followed by fear that he may be suffering form serious problem joins the anger and guilt. Thus, what a scientist would consider an emotionally neutral sign---coughing---has elicited a spectrum of emotions in the owner.
Therefore, Ms. Jones brings Spotty to the veterinary clinic with one goal in mind: to enlist help to stop his cough and bring peace and joy back into her relationship with her pet."
      ---Myrna Milani, D.V.M., The Golden Triangle column, Veterinary Forum

"Veterinary colleges have an obligation to ensure that students have the knowledge and skills to promote this bond. It is especially important that veterinary teaching hospitals actively engage student in the principles of a "bond-centered" practice which include the best practices in client service...If we want our veterinary students to truly embrace the human animal bond, veterinary teaching hospitals must be models of excellent behavior. We can no longer accept the idea that students think that teaching hospitals are somehow different from the "real world."
      ---Jeffrey, S. Klausner, D.V.M., M.S., Dean, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine

"Having graduated 30 years ago from a prestigious and progressive college of veterinary medicine, I felt I was trained for the medical challenges ahead. I never really thought about my ability to deal with distraught clients or with issues of pet loss. It seemed rather simple: pets lived, pets died, and in between, I tried to make things better for the animals. It was not considered part of my job description to dwell on owners' problems and, even if it was in my job duties, I had absolutely no exposure to the proper techniques and strategies I could use to deal with these issues. Times have changed, though, and now veterinary medicine must accept the challenge of meeting our clients' needs as well as caring for their pets."
      ---Stephen J. Withrow, D.V.M., Chief, Comparative Oncology, Colorado State University


© Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine
Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital