Animal chaplaincy is a nascent but growing field that involves ministering to animals, pet owners, animal care providers and entire communities affected by wildlife conflicts
— Sarah Bowen says she’s been doing the work of an animal chaplain since she was 6 years old. Raised in the Midwest as a Presbyterian preacher’s kid, she was often hauled to hospice facilities and funeral homes but noticed that the chipmunks and other animals crumpled by the side of the road weren’t treated with the same compassion shown to people.
“I realized that that’s an area that really needed help.” About every 10 days, Campbell said, he wanders throughout the teaching hospital, offering a listening ear to everyone from the veterinarians to folks working in shipping and receiving. For many animal chaplains, their vocational path stems from personal loss.