Authors are invited to submit articles for the special edition of the Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin on pertinent aspects of hospice/palliative care, euthanasia, or grief/loss related to companion animals.

End of life issues related to companion animals are seldom easy, whether they are our companions/pets or assistance animals (e.g., service, therapy, or emotional support). Advanced medical treatment options can often extend our companions’ lives but frequently are accompanied by significant financial, emotional and lifestyle costs. Animal hospice, modeled after human hospice, provides an alternative to continued medical treatment and is a viable end of life option. Hospice is designed to help caregivers maintain their terminally ill or geriatric companion animals’ comfort and quality of life until their death (either naturally occurring or euthanasia). The people who care for these companion animals (e.g., caregivers, the veterinary team, hospice staff, etc.) can all be impacted by these end of life issues.

This special edition of HAIB is designed to elucidate the experiences of those involved in this work, including, but not limited to companion animal owners, veterinarians/ veterinary technicians, and helping professionals (e.g., psychologists, social workers, hospice staff). Although all types of HAIB submissions will be considered (see Author Information), preference will be given to empirical investigations. Manuscripts should not exceed 8,000 words and should be formatted in APA style (see APA style manual). Manuscripts should be submitted online, specifying that the submission is for the special issue “animal hospice/ palliative care, euthanasia, and grief/loss related to companion animals”.

Please direct any inquiries (e.g., suitability, format, scope, etc.) about this Special Issue to the guest editor: Phyllis Erdman perdman@wsu.edu