Honoring the Bond: Support & Resources for Pet Owners
The mission of the Honoring the Bond Program is to recognize and honor the human-animal bond by providing support and resources to animal owners. Our social workers are here to help owners of animals being treated at The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Center.
In this section
17th Annual Animal Remembrance Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, 2025 – 10 a.m.-noon (ceremony beginning promptly at 10 a.m.)
Hosted by the Veterinary Medical Center’s Honoring the Bond program, the Remembrance Ceremony provides a time to reflect and remember the beloved animals that have passed during the previous year. To learn more and register, please click tab to the right of this paragraph.
Event open to all caregivers of patients of the Veterinary Medical Center, including feline, canine, equine and farm animal patients who have passed during this year.
NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN AFTER FRIDAY, MAY 9.
Thank you!
Hours & Appointment Scheduling
Marissa Metzger, MSW, LISW is the veterinary social worker at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.
Social work services are available to owners of animal patients of The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center during weekdays, office hours vary.
To reach a social worker, please ask a client services representative or other member of your pet's medical team to contact us. You may also contact us, directly, at (614) 247-8607 or e-mail at CVM-OSUVET.HonoringTheBond@osu.edu
Click here to learn more about veterinary social work.
Support Group for VMC Clients: Living with Pet Behavioral Issues
From September through December 2024, the Honoring the Bond Program at Ohio State's Veterinary Medical Center will offer an in-person support group exclusively for clients of the Veterinary Medical Center who are currently managing pets with behavioral needs.
The goal of the support group is to allow owners of animals with behavioral needs to get together and discuss the challenges they face, find a community of people that can relate to and understand the many ways owning an animal with behavioral needs impacts day to day life, learn different coping techniques, and have a safe space to feel supported by fellow pet owners in the community.
More details about the support group offering can be found in the application.
Please contact us at cvm-osuvet.honoringthebond@osu.edu with any questions about the group. Additional support group offerings are not available at this time.
The experience of losing a pet can be as similar to that as losing a human loved one. This video can help you gain a better understanding to grief and the grieving process.
End-of-Life, Quality-of-Life and Euthanasia Decisions
Does your pet have special needs, behavioral or otherwise? The following videos can assist you with the emotions tied to the challenges of your pet care situation.