History of the Pet Loss Support Hotline
History of The Pet Loss Support Hotline
The Pet Loss Support Hotline at UC Davis, established in February 1989 as the first university-connected pet loss support hotline in the country, provided a non-judgmental outlet for people to express their feelings and concerns when faced with difficult times involving their cherished animal companions. The Hotline was staffed by veterinary students trained by a professional grief counselor. Working on the Hotline provided valuable experience for our future doctors of veterinary medicine.
The Hotline handled thousands of phone calls from throughout the United States and Canada. It received national recognition and has appeared in "Dear Abby," the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, US News & World Report, USA News, Dog World, Cat Fancy, Bird Talk, Equus, and many others. The Hotline has also been featured on numerous nationally syndicated radio and television news shows. Though the UC Davis Pet Loss Support Hotline has now been discontinued, it provided the inspiration and model for other pet loss support hotlines throughout the country.
Through direct support to callers, vast media attention, and professional talks, the services of The Pet Loss Support Hotline were a pivotal resource in providing the public with information concerning the nature of our relationships with companion animals. The Hotline was also a tremendous resource for educating the veterinary community concerning the significance of the human-animal bond.
With services and educational opportunities like The Pet Loss Support Hotline, we gain more knowledge to help others understand and accept the reasons why people can become so attached to pets.
The Pet Loss Support Hotline At UC Davis ceased operations at the end of June 2009 due to budget issues as a result of the California budget crisis. You can still find information about dealing with pet loss on our web site. If you have additional questions, please contact the CCAH Business Office:
Center for Companion Animal Health
Business Office
Tel (530) 752-7295
Mailing Address:
Center for Companion Animal Health
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis CA 95616-8782
