Biography of Barbara Meyers

In addition to her health career background, she has been certified in Thanatology (the academic and practical knowledge of dying, death, grief and mourning) in association with her work with Dr. J. William Worden at the Harvard University Child Bereavement Study. She is a Symposia Lecturer at New York-Presbyterian Medical Center (The University Hospitals of Columbia and Cornell) and Associate Faculty Member (on sabbatical) in Death Studies/Seminar on Death at Columbia University in New York City.

Her animal behavior/ethology skills have been gained with the Center for Applied Animal Behavior in Berkeley, California and Dr. Eric Klinghammer of Wolf Park, Indiana. She works equally well with dogs and cats but has become known as, "The Cat Whisperer."

Certified in the use of Bach and other Flower Essence therapy, she is considered the outstanding expert on the use of these remedies in animals. She has a special interest and expertise in pain recognition/management, hospice and close of life care for animals as well as people and their extended families.

She is the author of numerous articles in professional and trade publications, magazines and newspapers. She has co-authored three books on the subject of dying, grief and mourning and is the sole author of a book on the subject of animal dying and death for children. She is currently authoring a 5th book on the Human-Animal bond.

An active member of many professional and animal advocacy organizations, her appearances include but are not limited to: National Geographic, CBS Nightly News, The Society of Medical Jurisprudence, The Delta Society, The Human-Animal Bond Association of Canada, New York State Association of Veterinary Technicians, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center Student Nurses, Lutheran Hospital Hospice Team, The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Staten Island University Hospital South Beach Psychiatric Center and Blue Heron Nature Center. She is a past U.S. Representative to the East African Wildlife Society and participated in a Magellenic Penguin banding expedition in Punta Tombo, Chubut, Argentina for the University of Washington.

After 9/11/01, she volunteered for and carried out (pro bono) crisis intervention for New York’s Bravest and Finest, the entire community of Staten Island, The Canine Search and Rescue and Recovery and Cadaver Dog Teams at The Home Port, Ground Zero, and "The Pile" on Staten Island and Richmond County Ambulance Service.

She serves on the Advisory Boards of Dogs for the Deaf in OR., The Pennsylvania State Pet Memorial Park and Cemetery, The Council on Animal Assisted Therapy in New York City from 1984 until its dissolution in 1994. Active memberships include but are not limited to: The American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians, The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, The Animal Legal Defense Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, The League of Humane Voters of NYC, The Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and The Farm Sanctuary.

Contributing Author To:

Books:

Clinical Dimensions of Anticipatory Mourning , Research Press, 800~519~2707

Disenfranchised Grief , Research Press, 800~519~2707

Unrecognized & Unsanctioned Grief , Charles C. Thomas Press, 800~258~8980

Me ‘N’ Duke (a book for children on animal death:) To be announced