Honoring the Bond

Our Services

The mission of the Honoring the Bond Program at The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital is to actively participate in the multi-disciplinary team to provide an integrated service that recognizes and honors the human-animal bond.  Our primary role is to provide emotional support and information to companion animal owners that are experiencing the illness, injury, loss or death of their companion animal. 

Through specialized training we also provide veterinary teams and students with the communication skills needed to promote quality veterinary care and veterinary career success.  The Honoring the Bond Program also serves as a field training/internship site for graduate social work students.

Contacting the Program

C.A.L.L. (Companion Animal Listening Line) (614) 292-1823

• 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday - Sunday (hotline hours are dependent upon volunteer availability)
• A student volunteer phone line providing non-medical support and grief education to companion animal owners
• Trained volunteers are graduate/professional students from the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine or College of Social Work

Joelle Nielsen, MSW, LSW, Honoring the Bond Program Coordinator (614) 247-8607 honoringthebond@osu.edu

• A full-time, licensed social worker, employed by the Ohio State Veterinary Teaching Hospital
• Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
• Client consultations are available by phone, e-mail or in person during regular office hours

Printable Fact Sheets

   

Media Spotlight

Joelle Nielsen, Honoring the Bond program coordinator, was interviewed by OnCampus, Ohio State's faculty and staff newspaper. Out of about 20 job nomiations, the publication listed Nielsen's as one of the most unique careers at the university. Read the article.