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Veterinary Social Services

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August 2022

We are pleased to announce that Kathleen Dunbar, RVT, VTS, MSW is now offering her services as a veterinary social worker here at Carnegy Animal Hospital.

Kathleen is now one of about five qualified social workers specializing in veterinary healthcare employed by a Canadian veterinary hospital. Our hospital believes that this is an important and growing service we can offer not only to our staff and our clients but to anyone involved in veterinary medicine and related fields. Kathleen is available to all who are involved in the veterinary industry here in Nova Scotia.

Individual grief counselling is available either in person or virtually to any resident of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
We also provide an eight-week Pet Loss Support Group for adults mourning their pet. The group provides information on grief-related subjects through informal discussions and sharing stories. Topics such as depression, anxiety, regret, coping with special occasions and more will be covered. Each support group is limited to ten members. This ensures all participants have space to share their feelings and experiences. These are offered periodically throughout the year.

Veterinary social workers understand the special bonds between humans and animals and learn specific interventions and therapies including grief and bereavement services, quality of life discussions, mindfulness‑based stress reduction and suicide awareness.

Kathleen has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Acadia University, a Diploma in Veterinary Technology from Dalhousie University and recently graduated from Dalhousie University with a Masters in Social Work, focusing on veterinary social work. Since 2008 she has worked as a registered veterinary technician at Carnegy Animal Hospital in Halifax, NS. In 2016 Kathleen obtained her Veterinary Technician Specialty in Clinical Practice (Canine/Feline). Kathleen has written for several veterinary publications. In addition to her work in the veterinary industry, Kathleen has worked in group homes for people with mental health difficulties for more than twenty years. Kathleen lives in Halifax with her husband, numerous cats, and a geriatric Pomeranian.

Please feel welcome to email wellnessliaison@carnegyanimalhospital.com  in confidence.  Kathleen has a dedicated telephone number 902-399-5869 as well.