Veterinary Chaplaincy

Introducing the first-ever textbook in veterinary chaplaincy, a new field of spiritual care focused on the unique needs of the pet-keeping community. Based on the scholarship and hands-on experience of Pet Chaplain® founder and chaplaincy educator Rob Gierka, EdD, this groundbreaking book offers a foundational education in the principles of interfaith spiritual care for pet loss and practical tools you can use to support pet keepers in clinical and community settings. Veterinary Chaplaincy is a call to action for professional caregivers, people who work or volunteer in the animal care and services industry, and everyday people who wish to provide spiritually inclusive comfort and support to their family and friends.

Key Topics

• An exploration of six key competencies for veterinary chaplaincy.
• An overview of the guiding principles of interfaith spiritual care.
• A detailed analysis of how people make meaning in life, which is the special purview of spiritual care.
• An overview of teachings and beliefs about animals in five of the world's mainstream religious institutions as well as alternative spiritual traditions, from earth-focused practices such as Wicca to humanism and atheism.
• Best practices for spiritual care, including guidance for engaging in pastoral conversations with people in emotional and spiritual crisis.
• A discussion of those situations that you may find emotionally and ethically challenging.
• Tips for creating memorials, rituals, prayers, and reflections that honor animal lives.
• A review of opportunities for practice in a variety of settings where animals and people interact, from veterinary clinics and rescue organizations to community settings such as homeless encampments.

Veterinary Chaplaincy is the final book in the Pet Chaplain® Learning Series, a four-book set that was awarded a bronze medal for best non-fiction book series from the Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY) in 2026. An IPPY award recognizes excellence among self-published authors and independent publishers. The series explores pet keeping and loss in the modern West. Packed with robust research, heart-touching pet stories, and interactive learning resources, the learning series is well suited to self-study and book discussion groups. The series is the brainchild of Rob Gierka, EdD, who founded Pet Chaplain, a community service and educational organization, in 2004. For more than two decades, Rob and his co-author Karen Duke have practiced veterinary chaplaincy in community and clinical settings, and they've also taught veterinary chaplaincy to people around the world. Visit petchaplain.com to learn more about Pet Chaplain and its diverse educational resources.