Community Discussion: Navigating Companion Animal Health Crises

5955 South Holly Street,Centennial CO 80121

15 October, 2022

Description

Your donation of $10 or more goes directly to helping families as they endure companion animal cancer. KarmaSue’s mission is to provide education, counseling, and financial support to Coloradan families that have companion animals living with cancer in an effort to honor the human-animal connection. Can't attend the live workshop? No worries! All registrants will receive a recording! This community discussion focuses on high-level questions/concerns related to decision-making as it relates to three types of health crises.  We will work together to understand the emotions associated with our pets' health changes and explore ways in which we can navigate them to best support our pets and ourselves during turbulent times. Types of health crises: The point in which you suspect something is wrong with your companion animal (e.g., you found a lump, they are limping, they are not acting like themselves, etc.)Your companion animal receives a diagnosis from a professional (e.g., anything from an infection to cancer, etc.)Transitioning (e.g., your companion animal is terminally ill, and you are faced with end-of-life decisions)Workshop Goal: To discuss common questions/concerns when faced with health crises and provide options on how to navigate both human and companion animal needs when faced with any of these issues.  Community members assist in this effort; providing genuinely human experiences and perspectives to ensure that no one feels alone on this journey. This workshop is for those enduring companion animal cancer and/or those wanting to strengthen their human-animal connection. Please register to reserve your spot today! *Note: This workshop is intended to explore how to secure emotional and basic needs when navigating these crises.  If you are seeking support with health concerns and determining next steps as they relate to your pet's health, please consult your veterinarian. Co-Facilitators: Heather O'Lear of 8 Mitts Heather O'Lear is an Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master practitioner, animal communicator, and animal transition doula. She uses Reiki and animal communication to provide inspiration, connection, love, and healing and to bring depth and understanding to the relationships between humans and animals. Heather is passionate about providing ways for humans to understand, learn from, and connect deeper with animals. She is happy to be a part of this community discussion and provide compassion through energy. Dr. Katie Braddock of Plum Creek Veterinary Services and KarmaSue Board President Dr. Braddock joined Plum Creek Veterinary Services in the summer of 2010. She attended college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts and earned a Bachelor of Science with High Distinction in Biochemistry in 2005. She attended Colorado State University for veterinary school and graduated in 2009, and went on to complete a rotating internship in medicine and surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, Canada from 2009-2010. Through Dr. Braddock's extensive involvement in KarmaSue, she has enjoyed getting to meet and support the KarmaSue families, as well as assist with the education and counseling workshops. She participated in the Pet Hospice program while at CSU, as well as training through the Argus Institute. Dr. Braddock has a strong professional interest in oncology, as well as a personal interest from having many pets with cancer. Her first Doberman, Bailey, had osteosarcoma and they lost her in 2015. Her second Doberman, Glory, had a primary lung mass and they lost her in 2021. She is looking forward to this community discussion and provide insight from a veterinary perspective.