Well-being Support
At Upstate Veterinary Specialties, we are not only dedicated to serving our animal patients, but we are dedicated to serving our human clients as well. UVS is proud to offer Well-being Support Services as part of your experience with our hospital. Our team will be there for you with compassionate, non-judgmental support and can assist with helping you make treatment decisions, liaising with your medical team, coping with grief and loss, or just being an empathetic presence during challenging times.
Pet Loss Peer Support Group
When we lose our pets, we lose the love and companionship of a beloved family member. For many of us, this loss brings overwhelming feelings of sadness. Your grief is a reflection of the love that you had for your pet and is completely natural and normal. We understand the devastation of saying goodbye to a pet, and we are here to support you in every way we can.
Our Pet Loss Peer Support Group is the Capital District’s first support group of its kind, created out of the necessity to grieve the deaths of our family with fur. We have been gathering for meetings since early 2012 in a supportive atmosphere with like-minded individuals who need to share the pain of losing our friends, service animals, and companions. Our Pet Loss Peer Support Group offers a supportive, judgment-free environment that supports the idea that these companions cannot be replaced; however, over time, healing and recovery from pain strengthen best when you are not alone.
The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Bereavement support is offered both in-person and virtually. Please complete this form to attend a group meeting either in person or virtually, and a member of our team will contact you.
Additional Support Services Offered at UVS:
- Guidance in treatment decision-making
- Managing the demands of chronic illness
- Addressing family conflict and crisis
- Facilitating communication with the veterinary team
- Emotional support during end-of-life transitions
- Pet Loss Peer Support Group meetings
- Help with adjusting to the loss of a beloved pet
- Legacy building program
- Information and referral to community resources
