In animal hospitals, social workers provide care to humans
Amy Conroy sat alone in a veterinary office, her hands clutching a bottle of water and her eyes blinking back tears. Her 16-year-old cat, Leisel, was having trouble breathing. She was now waiting for an update.The door opened and Laurie Maxwell entered.Ms. Maxwell works for MedVet, a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital in Chicago. But when she sat across from Mrs. Conroy one Monday evening in May, she explained that she wasn't there for the cat. She was there for Mrs. Conroy.Ms. Maxwell is a veterinary social worker, a job in a little-known corner of the therapy world that focuses on relieving the stress, worry and pain that can arise when a pet needs medical care.Pets no longer exist on the periphery of the human family: As one example, a 2022 survey found that nearly half of Am...