From snouts to souls: Celebrating the spectrum of love

This podcast is sponsored by VCA Animal Hospitals.

Happy Pride Month, dvm360 readers! To celebrate and recognize Pride Month, this episode of the Vet Blast Podcast, presented by dvm360, welcomes Jennifer Scanlon, LCSW, to the show to talk about the importance of the human-animal bond for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the episode, Scanlon and our host, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, share personal stories on the impact pets have on emotional well-being, a pet that has had a profound impact on their lives, and how pets can facilitate social interactions and bridge social gaps for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA: I think what some of the listeners and...viewers may not know is...we all have a special bond with our pets. We know that they're our companions, or our world. And...the LGBTQ+ community is very, very bonded to them. So, let's chat about that and...[how] pets serve as companions for the community, especially during times of social isolation or even discrimination. We know pets serve as vital sources of our emotional support, connection, and identity affirmation. So, what does that look like from your perspective?

Jennifer Scanlon, LCSW: Pets just create a nurturing environment. [LGBTQ+] individuals can truly be themselves, and pets just offer such a comforting and...nonjudgmental presence. The 2 most common words I hear from pet owners that our pets give to us is...unconditional love. So this bond is especially important during difficult times and even very vulnerable times. That companionship actually helps combat those feelings of isolation, discrimination, and even loneliness, and the bonds we have with our pets [are] genuine, right? They're very genuine, and it creates a sense of belonging.

Every moment they're having with their pets together is just a source of joy and emotional support. So, in a world that can sometimes feel unaccepting, pets serve as allies. And with the work that I do within the community, I often hear...that their pets are often their first allies in their lives. That is powerful, and it just reminds us [of] the importance of pets and how they provide us with love, connection, and acceptance. I just feel like...we can always find light in our pets' presence, and that's just a wonderful thing.