Valerie Bogie is a second-year student in the MSSW Online program studying Veterinary Social Work. She is scheduled to graduate in May 2025.
What interested you in studying Veterinary Social work?
I have been working with animals since 2000. With a career spanning over two decades, I have extensive experience across diverse animal care settings, including a veterinary hospital, an animal shelter, a veterinary behavior practice, training dogs, and caring for exotic animals in various zoos and aquariums across the country. I realized that no matter where I was living or what animals I was caring for, there was a lack of mental health awareness and resources specific to the animal industry which leads to high levels of compassion fatigue and burnout. My journey took a transformative turn when I discovered Veterinary Social Work—a field dedicated to addressing the emotional well-being of humans wherever there is a human-animal bond. Realizing the profound impact this support can have; I became dedicated to spreading awareness and providing resources about this growing and expansive field.
What things are you learning in your field placement with Dr. Elizabeth Strand?
I am so grateful to be learning from Dr. Elizabeth Strand, the Founding Director of Veterinary Social Work, and the entire Veterinary Social Work team at the Veterinary Medical Center! Our office is on the clinic floor of the Small Animal Hospital, so we are able to support clients that have sick animals or have to euthanize their pet. We are available to be a touchpoint for staff that might need a moment to regulate themselves after a tough case or situation. I am also learning to conduct pet loss support sessions. Did you know we provide six free pet loss sessions for anyone that lives in the state of Tennessee?! We also have a free virtual monthly pet loss support group as well as resources for financial aid and other needs that arise. Click here to sign up for pet loss sessions or the support group: https://vetsocialwork.tennessee.edu/get-help-for-people/
Why do you think veterinary social work is so important?
Whether you care for animals as your job or as a pet owner, the bond formed with animals is so strong and needs to be honored. It can be so impactful to receive support from someone specifically trained for what you are experiencing. There are so many opportunities for Veterinary Social Work to make a difference such as veterinary students & staff, pet owners, shelter workers, zoo & aquarium staff, dog trainers, and so much more. There are four areas of Veterinary Social Work and so many ways to apply them.
What podcasts have you appeared in to talk about the field of vet social work?
-Bitey End of the Dog with Mike Shikashio: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5sa614zHsbxSdqtahD2O0S?si=b4cac354c0c64310
-Enrichment for the Real World with Pet Harmony: https://petharmonytraining.com/episode54/
-Care for the Healer: https://open.substack.com/pub/careforthehealer/p/cfth-podcast-episode-2?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
What has been your favorite part of the program so far?
It is surreal to be on campus working where Veterinary Social Work started. I really enjoy the in-person interactions with the Veterinary Social Work team, Vet Med Center staff, students and clients. To be in a building full of so many intelligent, dedicated humans is an honor.
What do you hope to do when you graduate?
I want to continue to educate people about Veterinary Social Work, how it can benefit them, and connect them with resources. I will continue to attend conferences for pet professionals to work towards that goal. I love presenting and leading workshops and recently led one for ASPCA and have an upcoming webinar for Fear Free members in November. I am on the clinical track so I will also need to squeeze in those 3,000 clinical hours after graduation, too. I love Knoxville so far (just moved here in July) so it would be amazing to be able to stay here after graduation!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Remember your self-care! Grad school is a busy time so make sure to breathe and do something restorative for yourself. (I say this as a reminder for myself as well.)