Animal chaplains offer spiritual care for every species
In this image provided by WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Scott Campbell, right, Veterinary Chaplain at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, looks on as people tie ribbons honoring pets that have passed away during the Garland Ceremony, that was part of a "Celebration of Life & Remembrance for Our Companion Animals" event on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Pullman, Wash. Credit: AP/Ted S. Warren
(RNS) — 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.
“At a very young age, I began picking up those little animals, putting them in my lunchbox, and giving them burials in the way my father did when he was working with humans,” said Bowen, who recalls saying “May the force be with you!” after the burials.
___
This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story.
