Pet Social Worker Busy In Tough Economy

Because of the poor economy, many pet owners have been unable to pay to treat their sick or dying pets and that has led to an increase in demand for this service.

Christina Bach, a pet social worker at Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at The University of Pennsylvania, counsels pet owners through the grieving process of losing a pet.

"It has really become difficult for our patients, our clients who feel like their inability to pay for care for their pet is a testament to not loving them enough," Bach said.

Christina said that losing a pet, for some, is like losing a loved one. She said, "We really think of our pets as family members, and extensions of that family system and so it feels very natural to offer them support services when they are coping with a family member who is sick."

To make matters worse, the poor economy is forcing many pet owners to forego the kind of care they would like to give their sick or dying animals.

Bach described seeing "people waiting, I think, a lot longer to get the kind of care that their animals might need, waiting until the last minute. And we might not be able to offer as much help for them at that point."

As a result, Christina's counseling services are more in demand than ever before.

The University of Pennsylvania was the first veterinary hospital in the nation to establish a program to help humans deal with the loss of a pet.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with the loss of a pet, click here for more for more information on Penn Vet's free bereavement support groups .