Published: September 14, 2007 11:48 am      

Pets, people find empathy at U of I

URBANA — When the fawn Great Dane walks through the door of the small animal clinic, employees’ faces light up and they say, “It’s Tucker day!”

The dog basks in their pats and praise, giving no sign that he might be feeling a bit under the weather.

Owner Kay Keck of Bloomington, Ind., smiles when she talks about the staff at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana.

“They’re absolutely fabulous,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for better. They love him — they do everything they can for him.”

The 4-year-old show dog started chemotherapy and radiation in February to fight lymphoma.

The U of I has the only teaching hospital and College of Veterinary Medicine in the state. The hospital offers state-of-the-art services to help animals of all species — from robins to tigers — get on their feet again.

In addition to the high-tech equipment, however, the hospital offers something just as important to pets like Tucker and their owners — compassion.

One of the college’s outreach programs is the nonprofit Companion Animal Related Emotions (CARE) Pet Loss Hotline, which marks its 10-year anniversary.

The confidential phone service is staffed by veterinary students who are specially trained in grief counseling and understand the depth of the human-animal bond.

Although the program is free to callers, it still needs funds to maintain its phones, buy postage and cover other expenses.

On Friday, Oskee Bow Wow 2007 will raise funds for the hotline. The event will give visitors behind-the-scenes tours of the hospital and its Wildlife Medical Clinic, as well as a chance to meet doctors and a few of the patients.

University of Illinois “first dog” Webster White, a Coton de Tulear owned by President Joe White, will greet guests.

Live music, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and wine will be offered.

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is a referral center where experts from surgeons and oncologists to dermatologists and dentists care for more than 16,000 animals a year.

DEDICATION

Owners travel long distances to see a specialist for their pets.

Keck, for example, drives three hours one way from Indiana to bring 175-pound Tucker in for treatments every Friday.

She and Tucker wait for their appointment in a comfortable room in the oncology unit, complete with a couch, television and framed photos of past patients.

“As long as he has quality of life, they’ll do what they can,” Keck said, referring to the staff. “They love him to pieces.”

“It’s all about the quality of life and treasuring each day,” said Cheryl A. Weber, client counselor specialist who knows many of the patients by name.

Tucker is in remission.

Pat Flynn of Utica has been bringing various pets to the hospital for 20 years. In the past, he brought in a cocker spaniel who was paralyzed and a mixed-breed who needed neck surgery.

On a recent day, he drove two hours one-way to bring in Cosmopolitan “Polly,” 2, a sable cocker, and Martini, 4, a black cocker. Polly is being treated for a cataract and bladder stones, while Martini is fighting a skin problem.

“Critters from all over the state come to see specialists,” Weber said.

TOUGH TIMES

Sometimes, an animal will lose the fight for life, or an owner will need to make the difficult decision to euthanize a pet.

That’s where the hospital’s CARE services come in.

Recognizing the strength of the animal-human bond, the hospital has employed a client counselor since 2002. Weber, a licensed social worker, has been a client counselor specialist for three years.

“We help people deal with illness, injury and death (of pets),” she said. “It’s incredible how people become attached to animals.”

The hospital offers a retreat — a consultation room — for clients whose pet must be euthanized or meet with a doctor when the prognosis isn’t good.

The room has soft lighting, leather furniture and plants; candles and music are available.

Euthanasia can be done in the room, giving the owner and pet time to be alone.

“They’re allowed to stay here as long as they want,” said Ellen Grommet, student leader of the helpline.

People picking up ashes of cremated pets may want to do so in the consultation room, as well. Sometimes, owners experience a rush of memories and renewed grief when picking up urns, Grommet said, and they need time alone.

Grommet also talks with vet students at the end of each day, discussing how they handled cases and suggesting what kind of information the owners might need.

Weber also teaches “Bereavement Issues in Veterinary Practice,” a course that both trains students and provides them with a practical experience as volunteers at the pet loss helpline.

Weber participates in oncology and teaching rounds, where she addresses euthanasia, loss, communicating bad news and compassion fatigue. She also provides grief support to hospital clients and is available to provide resources to referring veterinarians on a variety of topics, including children and pet loss.

The students take some of these ideas, such as the consultation room, to their clinics when they graduate.

HOTLINE HELP

A unique feature at the U of I is its CARE pet loss hotline, which has taken calls from more than 2,000 owners from across the country in the past 10 years.

Weber said, “This valuable service also provides future veterinarians with an enhanced appreciation for the human-animal bond.”

Grommet handled the hotline alone over the summer, taking 125 calls. With school back in session, she oversees the student volunteers. The hotline takes about 450 calls a year.

The calls are from people whose pets — from gerbils to horses — have died or disappeared. The helpline also received calls after Hurricane Katrina and the pet food recalls from earlier this year.

Sometimes owners are embarrassed to show grief over an animal.

“They know they can call here and someone understands,” Grommet said.

“It’s OK to grieve your pet,” Weber said.

The volunteers will send out a grief packet to the caller — one with general information for adults and another with pamphlets to help children handle the loss of a pet. They also will send a sympathy card, and another at the one-year anniversary of the pet’s death.

Several thank-you cards, some with photos, are tacked onto a board in the hotline room.

“It’s rewarding to get the thank-you cards, to know you reached out to someone,” Grommet said.

The hospital also does research, and does trials with medication. Other services include post-surgical rehabilitation, dentistry, intensive care unit, an emergency room, oncology, large animal clinic (including the only MRI for horses in the state), CT, a wildlife rehabilitation area and care for exotic animals.

COMING UP

The second Oskee Bow Wow will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 1008 W. Hazelwood, Urbana.

Registration costs $50 per person. To register, visit http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu or call the College of Veterinary Medicine at 333-2761. You also may register at the door. Only human guests are invited.

PET LOSS HELPLINE

Volunteers answer the phones from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The number is 244-2273, or toll-free (877) 394-2273. You also may e-mail: griefhelp@cvm.uiuc.edu

You may leave a phone message at any time, and your call will returned during regular hours.

For more information, visit the Web site http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE/ This site also offers reading and online resources, as well as tips to help with the grieving process.