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Best Friends

Channel your passion for animals and the planet into a caring and supportive vocation

Animal chaplains provide support for both animals and humans by using ritual, ceremony, and the tools of spiritual companionship. Our training program helps you fulfill your heart’s call to honor and celebrate the lives of all species, including how to companion them through joys and challenges. 

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Our program is non-denominational and does not require students to have a specific religious or spiritual outlook. It will, though, prepare you to work with a diverse set of belief systems, so that you can support people regardless of their own outlook.

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Program is offered annually. Our next cohort begins September 2025! Scroll down for an overview of the program. Click-through to view full program information and program costs. And feel free to contact us with any questions or schedule a consult with our program director by clicking below. We'd love to get to know you and help you get to know us.

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OVERVIEW


Animal Chaplaincy Training is available in three 3-month courses which culminate in ordination as an Animal Chaplain. Participants can choose 3-month, 6-month,and 9-month durations. Choose the option that best fits your desired commitment and learning outcomes. The program begins each September and student learn together in a supportive cohort, with courses offered consecutively. Each course is a pre-requisite for the next.


Training includes live classes (available from anywhere in the world via Zoom) with our faculty and guest expert speakers. The program also features curated reading and reflection, film discussions, peer-supported practice groups, 1-on-1 mentoring, and community-based experiential sessions. A year-end optional in-person retreat is offered.

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Our curriculum combines chaplaincy fundamentals and bereavement basics with best practices from the innovative fields of interspirituality, humane education, animal theology, nature spirituality, and human-animal studies.

 

We offer a flexible program that develops the professional skills you need to:

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  • Expand your healing business to include conscious and compassionate life transitions for animals and the humans who love them

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  • Know what to do and say to help people navigate grief and loss in a meaningful way

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  • Lead individuals and groups in interspecies practices designed to increase well-being and compassion

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  • Develop creative rituals to support individuals, animal sanctuaries, nonprofits, veterinary practices, meditation centers, yoga programs, or religious communities

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WHO YOU'LL LEARN FROM

Animal Chaplain Sarah Bowen oversees the program and teaches core curriculum, weaving connections between your life experiences and our unique collection of expert knowledge facilitators, which includes:

 

  • Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Dr. Jeff Feinman, DVM spiritually focused Veterinarian

  • Debbie Philp, licensed wildlife rehabilitator, founder Dancing Turtle Rescue and Education Program, Inc.

  • Zazie Todd, animal behavior expert and award-winning writer of "Purr: the Science of Making your Cat Happy" and "Wag: the Science of Making your Dog Happy"

  • Michael Skaggs, PhD, Director of Programs of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab

  • Dr. Clair Linzey, Deputy Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics

  • Amanda Ree, founder of SamaDog, canine wellness practitioner, & certified Ayurveda educator, prior lead educator & Vice-President of the Chopra Center 

  • Ginny Mikita, J.D., M.Div, animal-friendly lawyer & ordained interfaith/interspecies minister

  • Marshall Hammer, interfaith minister & Reiki master specializing in animals

  • Susan Shannon, M. Div., BCC, dharma lover, earth and animal steward, interfaith minister and chaplain

  • Judy Ramsey, interspecies counselor, professional animal communicator, and shamanic practitioner

  • Victoria Moran, certified life coach, certified holistic health coach, graduate of the T. Colin Campbell/e-Cornell program in plant-based nutrition, and a registered yoga instructor

  • And more...

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications are open for our next Cohort. Classes begin September 3, 2025.

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To view detailed information on the curriculum, cost, schedule, time commitment and more, click the "Cost & Details" button below. If you have questions, click on "Schedule Consult" to talk with our program director. 

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