American Association of Veterinary Chaplains AAVChap News

Live Event: Join AAVChap at VMX 2026!

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:41:44 GMT

We’re excited to announce AAVChap’s participation at VMX 2026 (Jan 17-21, Orlando, FL), a premier veterinary conference of over 25,000 professional attendees with 1,200+ hours of CE, including practice management sessions perfect for veterinary chaplains. This is a chance to deepen your skills and directly connect with the veterinary community.

Why Join Us?

Support Our Virtual Presentations: Scott Campbell will be presenting three recorded virtual sessions (one with a veterinary colleague) with live Q&A following each. Your attendance and positive feedback can amplify AAVChap’s presence and help secure future virtual, or perhaps in-person, presentation slots for 2027. It's an amazing opportunity.
Volunteer at Our Booth: We need your help! Volunteer to staff our exhibit booth and share AAVChap’s mission with thousands of attendees. If fundraising allows, we may be able to reimburse registration fees (travel, lodging, and meals not covered). Additionally, I’d love to host a group dinner for volunteers at the conference!
Relevant Sessions: Engage with sessions like “Managing the Emotional Toll of Veterinary Practice” (VMX 2024), or “HELP: Hospice and End of Life Planning,” “Enhancing Animal Welfare in Shelters,” and “Break Down the Day to Pump Up the Team” (VMX 2025), which focus on emotional well-being, client communication, and team resilience—core to our work as veterinary chaplains.

CROSS THE FINISH LINE!

You're on the final lap. There are only a few days left to secure $125 VMX registration prices.

Keep your eye on the prize — VMX 2026 World Classic: Celebrating the Champions of Care offers over 1,200 hours of CE this January 17-21 in Orlando. Think: an Olympics-themed global showcase of cultures, entertainment and opportunities for friendly competition.

Can't join us in-person? Save $100 when you register for VMX Virtual today. The VMX Virtual Only registration option increases from $295 to $395 after September 2.

Register for $125

Kick Off VMX with Patrick Dempsey

Get ready for an unforgettable Saturday Opening Ceremony as we kick off VMX with Patrick Dempsey. Join us as Patrick opens up about his career, his love for animals and his deep commitment to the Dempsey Center, which provides personalized counseling and care for cancer patients and their families.

Secure My Spot

Register by Sept 2 for discounted rates ($125 in-person, $295 virtual). Visit the VMX website (https://navc.com/vmx-event) for details.

Interested in volunteering at VMX or presenting at future conferences like VMX? Email info@aavchap.org to stay informed.

Let’s strengthen the spirit of the human-animal bond together!

AAVChap Welcomes New Board Members: A Step Forward for Veterinary Chaplaincy

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:09:02 GMT

The American Association of Veterinary Chaplains (AAVChap) is thrilled to announce that Wendy Brtalik and Shel Graves have been elected to our Board of Directors, expanding our leadership from three to five members. On June 27, 2025, our voting members overwhelmingly approved both candidates, affirming their unique skills to advance our mission of nurturing the human-animal bond. This milestone strengthens our commitment to supporting caregivers, families, and animal companions with compassion and care.

Wendy and Shel bring fresh perspectives to guide AAVChap’s growth, ensuring we honor the emotional and spiritual needs of our community. Their election marks the first step in our board expansion, with two more seats opening this fall for member-nominated candidates and two additional seats in February 2026. We’re weaving a stronger tapestry of care, coast to coast. Join us at AAVChap.org to celebrate this moment, explore our growing resources, and be part of a movement where every bond thrives.

Webinar Schedule Set: Join Us Monthly!

Scott — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMT

The American Association of Veterinary Chaplains (AAVChap) is delighted to announce our webinar schedule after hearing from our members! Starting with Veterinary Chaplaincy 101 on April 16—this one's free for all—we’ll gather on the third Wednesday of each month at 10 AM Pacific Time (11 AM Mountain, 12 PM Central, 1 PM Eastern). These sessions are a chance to deepen our connection across the human-animal bond, supporting caregivers, families, and animals alike. Apologies for the slight delay in sharing this—we’ve been fine-tuning to make it just right!

A client once told me how her tortoise’s calm gaze steadied her through a difficult week. That quiet strength inspires us. From busy clinics to peaceful homes, we’re here to nurture the bonds that sustain us. A registration button will appear soon on our homepage at AAVChap.org—keep an eye out! Join this growing community where every companion’s presence lights the way.

Rev. Sarah Bowen Joins AAVChap as Ex Officio Advisor

Scott — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMT

We’re overjoyed to welcome Rev. Sarah Bowen as an ex officio advisor to the American Association of Veterinary Chaplains (AAVChap) Board of Directors!

Sarah’s a force in animal chaplaincy—co-founder of the Compassion Consortium, where she directs their Animal Chaplaincy Training Program, and author of Sacred Sendoffs, a soulful guide to surviving animal loss and honoring all creatures. She’s been my conversation partner since AAVChap’s first steps, her insights shaping our call to spiritual care for the human-animal bond. A dean at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary and columnist for Spirituality & Health, Sarah’s out there giving sacred sendoffs to wildlife and lifting up endangered species with fierce compassion.

Her presence on our board strengthens our weave of care—for clients, caregivers, and animals alike. Want to join this journey? Stop by and join us —together, we’re tending bonds that heal the heart and planet!

AAVChap Membership Takes Flight!

Scott — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:30:00 GMT

The American Association of Veterinary Chaplains (AAVChap) is officially open—and our community is growing! Since our launch near the beginning of March, we’ve been thrilled to welcome a wave of new members passionate about veterinary chaplaincy and spiritual care for the human-animal bond. From veterinary teams to chaplains, chaplaincy students to families, folks are joining us to nurture that sacred connection between humans and animals, weaving compassion into every corner of caregiving. It’s heartwarming to see this movement—dreamed up back in 2021—finally taking root.

A client once shared his guilt over not protecting his little dog from an attack—then told me he’d personally fought off the bigger dog, injuring himself to save her. I told him it was one of the most amazing stories of loving compassion I’d ever heard, a heroic act. He relaxed and thanked me—no one had ever told him he’d done enough. That’s AAVChap’s heartbeat: lifting each other when it counts. And we’re just getting started!

Are you ready to be part of this journey? Stop by and join us—because together, we’re mending hearts and honoring every bond!

AAVChap Achieves 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status!

Scott — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:07:05 GMT

We’re thrilled to announce that the American Association of Veterinary Chaplains (AAVChap) has officially been granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status! This recognition marks an important step in our mission to provide emotional and spiritual support across the veterinary and animal caregiving ecosystem.

As we celebrate this milestone, we want to thank everyone who has supported our vision and believed in the importance of compassionate care for animals, their caregivers, and the veterinary healthcare team.

Stay connected with us—there’s so much more on the horizon, and we’re excited to have you along for the journey.

Together, we can strengthen the human-animal bond and foster a more compassionate world.

Thank you for being part of our story!

AAVChap Getting Started

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 20:06:05 GMT

The American Association of Veterinary Chaplains is registered as a not-for-profit charitable organization in Washington State. The Board of Directors is steadily working on getting all of the pieces in place for the organization and will announce milestones as they pass.

We look forward to this journey together!