About
Valerie Bogie, MSSW
Veterinary Social Worker • Speaker • Educator • Consultant
Valerie Bogie, MSSW, VSW, is a Veterinary Social Worker, educator, speaker, and former animal care professional with more than 25 years of experience across veterinary medicine, zoos, aquariums, shelters, and animal behavior. Through training, consultation, and coaching, she supports the people who care for animals by strengthening communication, well-being, leadership, and the human–animal bond.
A Career Bridging Animal and Human Well-Being
My career has always been rooted in caring—for animals, the people who care for them, and the relationships that connect them.
For more than two decades, I worked in animal care roles across zoos, aquariums, shelters, veterinary settings, and pet training. Much of that time was spent training and caring for exotic animals, work that I loved and once considered my dream career. Like many professionals in animal-focused fields, however, I also experienced the emotional realities that often accompany this work, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and the challenge of sustaining well-being while caring deeply for others.
Everything changed when I discovered Veterinary Social Work, a field dedicated to supporting the human side of animal care and the human–animal bond. For the first time, I found a profession that brought together my passion for animals, behavior, communication, and human well-being. I understood firsthand the difference this kind of support could make—not only for individuals, but for entire teams and organizations.
I earned my Master of Science in Social Work and Veterinary Social Work Certificate from the University of Tennessee and have dedicated my career to strengthening the human side of the human–animal bond. My work supports both animal care professionals and pet guardians, helping people navigate communication challenges, grief, ethical decision-making, behavior concerns, preparing for euthanasia, and the emotional complexities that often accompany life with animals. In addition to providing consultation, training, and speaking engagements through my LLC, I serve as Director of Human Support Services and a Behavior Consultant at Insight Animal Behavior Services, where I Iead training sessions for our clients as well as facilitate support groups and individual sessions for pet guardians around the world.
Education
- Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) & Veterinary Social Work Certificate, University of Tennessee
- Veterinary Human Support Certificate, University of Tennessee
- Environmental Science & Geography Majors with a Biology Minor, Carthage College
Certifications & Professional Roles
- Director of Human Support Services & Behavior Consultant, Insight Animal Behavior Services
- Director of Partnerships, International Association of Veterinary Social Work
- Emotional CPR Trainer
- Fear Free Certified Professional
- Founder, Valerie Bogie LLC
How I Help
Today, I partner with veterinary teams, shelters, zoos, aquariums, animal behavior professionals, educational institutions, and pet guardians to strengthen communication, support well-being, navigate complex decisions, and sustain meaningful human–animal relationships.