Laurel Lagoni, M.S.
President/CEO World by the Tail, Inc.
End-of-Life Specialist for Veterinary Medicine, Pet Parenting, Mental Health Professionals, Spirituality

Laurel's Contact Info
Phone: 1-888-271-8444 (toll-free customer service) or 970-223-5590 (office and/or voice mail)
Fax: 970-223-1226
Email: llagoni@comcast.net

Background Info

I am president and CEO of World by the Tail, Inc., creators and distributors of the Veterinary Wisdom® line of emotional support products. ClayPaws®, the original paw print kit™, is our company's signature product.

World by the Tail, Inc. also designs and maintains www.VeterinaryWisdom.com, a website offering a blog, information, products, and resources for veterinarians and animal care professionals and www.VeterinaryWisdomforPetParents.com, with similar information for Pet Parents and families.

I am also the co-founder and former director of the Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The Argus Institute is one of the leading academic centers providing grief support for pet owners and grief education and clinical training for veterinary medical professionals.

I hold a Master's degree in Human Development and Family Studies (family therapy) and a B.S. in journalism. This combination has allowed me to become one of the most widely published mental health professionals in the veterinary medical field. I have written over 50 books, articles, and book chapters for many of veterinary medicine's leading journals, newsmagazines, and publishers, as well as for the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

I am a seasoned interview subject quoted in newspapers and magazines like Parade, The Denver Post, and the New York Times. I have also appeared on many radio and television programs including ABC's "20/20" program. I understand deadlines and make every effort to respond to media requests ASAP.

I'm proud to be a veterinary medicine 'insider' with over 25 years of professional clinical, teaching and program/curriculum development at Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, one of the top-ranked veterinary medical schools in the country. I can often share sources and other expert contact information to enhance your story. Depending on the story, photos to illustrate your article may be available.

Click here to read further information about Laurel Lagoni.

Click here for a copy of Laurel Lagoni's CV.


Possible Article Ideas

1. Three Ways to Help Kids Cope with their Pet's Sudden Death
   (or substitute another audience, eg. Friends, Men, Seniors,
   Disabled, etc.)
   
   
2. Three Ways to Prepare your Children for a Pet's Euthanasia
   (or substitute another audience, eg. Friends, Men, Seniors,
   Disabled, etc.)
   
   
3. Four Decisions to Make BEFORE your Pet Dies
   
   
4. Four Ways to Help a Friend whose Pet has Died
   (or substitute another audience, eg. Friends, Men, Seniors,
   Disabled, etc.)
   
   
5. What your Vet may (or may not!) Know about Helping You say
   Good-bye
   
   
6. What your Spouse May (or may not!) Know about Saying Good-bye to your Pet
   
   
7. Five Reasons why Scheduling your Pet's Euthanasia may be the Kindest Way to Say Good-bye
   
   
8. I Can't Get Over my Pet's Death. What's Wrong with Me?

Possible Interview Questions

1. What should pet owners look for in a veterinarian if they know that feeling supported and understood during pet loss support will be important to them?
   
   
2. What are the two or three most important things pet owners should do BEFORE a pet dies?
   
   
3. What are the two or three most important things pet owners should do AFTER a pet dies?
   
   
4. What mistakes do pet owners commonly make while dealing with the death of a pet?
   
   
5. What mistakes do veterinarians commonly make while dealing with the death of a patient?
   
   
6. How did you get started in your career?
   
   
7. What should others do if they are interested in becoming a grief counselor who works with veterinarians?
   
   
8. When one pet dies, is it better to get another pet right away or to wait awhile before adopting a new one?
   
   
9. Do pets grieve for one another?
   
   
10. Do people ever report having paranormal experiences who have died?

Articles About Laurel's Work

Best Friends Animal Society, December 2009 - Blue Christmas http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=B6B0ABC0-F2EE-A80B-BF86A9EB3C4A9B1D

DVM Newsmagazine, February 2002 - CSU stresses training,
bond-centered practices
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=12957

DVM Newsmagazine, June 2002 - Communications protocol can help
cement the human-animal bond
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Communications-protocol-can-
help-cement-the-human-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/23737

CVMA Voice, Spring 2002 - New Book Helps Veterinary Teams Meet
Emotional Needs of Pet-Owning Families
http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/cvma.htm

UPI Science News, November 2002 - Animal tales: Dealing with pet loss
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2002/11/15/Animal_Tales_Dealing_
with_pet_loss/UPI-87341037379660/