Veterinary Social Work: How Undergraduate Social Workers Can Make a Difference

Abstract

The provision of veterinary social work has traditionally required training only available to graduate social work students and professionals. As social work educators continue to define core competencies required for veterinary social work, they must consider how to train undergraduate social work students in this emerging field. Remote Area Medical (RAM) provides such an opportunity. This article describes the experience of baccalaureate social work students at a university in a Southern state in the provision of veterinary social work services at five RAM spay and neuter clinics. The ways in which social work educators might use the RAM model as a service learning opportunity for their students are also explored.