Hospital Chaplain Sees Need Counseling at Vet School

WWAY Channel 3 (Wilmington, NC): A volunteer hospital chaplain says he thinks there is a need for counseling of pet owners when their dogs and cats are being treated at the N.C. State University vet school clinic. Robert Gierka is a publications manager at N.C. State and wants to be a full-time chaplain at the vet school. The chaplain says pet owners view their pets as family members and suffer the same grief as people do when members of their human family are sick or dying. Michael Davidson is director of veterinary medical services at the school and is working to help secure grant money to pay for the chaplain's post.