Animal Chaplaincy Services

Spiritual support for the animals we love—and the humans who love them.

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💫 What is Animal Chaplaincy?

Animal chaplaincy is a gentle, inclusive spiritual practice that honours the deep emotional and sacred connections we share with animals. An animal chaplain offers compassionate presence, ritual, and support during the significant moments of life with our animal companions, including birth, illness, adoption, death, grief, and remembrance.

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While traditional chaplaincy often takes place in hospitals, hospices, or faith-based settings, animal chaplaincy meets people and animals in everyday, sacred moments—without hierarchy, theology, or walls. It’s about soul, not dogma.

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Animal chaplaincy is not affiliated with any one religion or belief system. It is rooted in love, respect, and reverence for the sentience of all beings. I am an interfaith and secular chaplain, which means I support people of all beliefs—or none at all. Whether you consider your pet your soulmate, your child, or your quietest teacher, their life matters—and so does your bond.

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🐾 What does an Animal Chaplain do?

As an animal chaplain trained and certified by the US-based Compassion Consortium, I offer emotional and spiritual support in many forms, including:

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• Grief and bereavement support (in person or via Zoom)

• End-of-life rituals and farewells

• Blessings for new adoptions or major transitions

• Memorial ceremonies (in-store or at a meaningful location)

• Support during illness, palliative care, or anticipatory grief

• Spiritual reflection and meaning-making for people navigating animal-related challenges

 

You don’t have to be spiritual or religious to benefit from chaplaincy. You simply need to care deeply about your animal—and be open to sharing that experience with someone who will hold space for it gently and without judgement.

 

💛 Why choose me?

I’m a certified, soon-to-be ordained animal chaplain, a lifelong dog lover, and someone who has walked the road of love, loss, and learning with animals many times.

I am also:

• A trained pet loss support companion

• A recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to animal welfare

• A Churchill Fellow in the field of animal-assisted therapy

• The founder of Muddy Cuddles, a social enterprise supporting children in foster care through the love of therapy dogs

• A Blue Mountains local who understands the depth of the human–animal bond

 

I bring tenderness, ritual, and reverence to every interaction—whether it’s a joyful welcome for a new puppy or a quiet goodbye to an old friend.

 

🐶 What to expect from a chaplaincy session

Each session is shaped by your needs and your animal’s unique story.

• One-on-one support currently offered via Zoom.

• Ceremonies (blessings, memorials, etc.) can be as simple or as elaborate as you like—always heartfelt and personal.

• Group gatherings, such as our “Blessing of the Dogs” or pet loss grief support circles, held throughout the year.

 

No two sessions are the same. The one constant is compassion.

 

🌿 When to reach out

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to seek support. Animal chaplaincy is for:

• People who are grieving a beloved animal

• Families navigating pet illness, injury, or end-of-life decisions

• Anyone who wants to honour their pet’s life in a meaningful way

• People seeking healing after a traumatic or complicated loss

• Veterinarians and vet nurses, foster carers, shelter workers, and animal advocates carrying emotional load

Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to carry it alone.

 

Please get in touch via the Contact page to find out more or schedule a chaplaincy session.