Kelly Bremken, an Oregon Humane social worker, poses with a colleague, and cats prepped for surgery.
Care That Goes Beyond a Meal
On a cold, rainy morning in Portland, Kelly Bremken trekked down a muddy hillside to the tiny, makeshift home of a man caring for six adult cats and nine 4-week-old kittens. She was accompanied by Blanchet House Café Manager Ami Prevec, who had contacted Bremken out of concern.
“Sometimes the best way to start is to make a face-to-face visit,” said Bremken. “We’re always going to have something in common that we both really love, which is animals.”
Bremken wasn’t there to remove the animals. She wasn’t there to judge. She was there to listen.
Bremken, MSSW, VSW, LCSW, is a veterinary social worker with the Oregon Humane (OH). It’s a little-known and relatively new profession. As of early 2026, there are only about two dozen veterinary social workers across the United States and Canada.
The adoption photos of D.’s kittens. Photos courtesy Oregon Humane.
What Is a Veterinary Social Worker?
A veterinary social worker supports people who care for animals. They help families navigate medical decisions, financial barriers, and grief. They support veterinarians and shelter workers facing compassion fatigue and secondary trauma.
“I like helping people help pets,” Bremken said.
Bremken completed her graduate training at the University of Tennessee, a leader in veterinary social work education, and was hired by the Oregon Humane in 2021. Her work often places her at the intersection of housing instability, poverty, and the human-animal bond.
D. cuddles kittens in his home before later surrendering them to foster homes through Oregon Humane.
Meeting People Where They Are
Blanchet House welcomes people and their pets to dine in its free café, recognizing that some guests will forgo a meal rather than leave an animal outside. For many experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, pets are their only companions, but they can also complicate access to housing and services.
Prevec, a former animal shelter worker, had grown concerned about D., a regular diner who cared for numerous cats and was becoming overwhelmed. He shared with her that people frequently dropped off unwanted cats and kittens at his door. Within two weeks of their first visit to D., the number of kittens had grown to 17.
“You could see how much he loved those cats,” Prevec said. “But it was becoming more than one person could manage.”
When Bremken visited D.’s home, she found the cats and kittens well cared for; they were fat, happy, and social.
“If they were in a shelter, it would take multiple staff members to do what he was trying to do,” Bremken said. “My biggest advice is to lean in with grace and ask questions. Sometimes we approach with judgment, and that’s not helpful. No matter what type of home we live in, we can give animals so much.”
She recommends choosing curiosity over authority when approaching someone you’re concerned may not be adequately caring for their pets. Before discussing solutions, she made something clear to D.
“You’ve done a great job with these kittens,” she told him.
This simple acknowledgment helped D. feel safe enough to discuss solutions, trust that he was in good hands, and share some control over the situation.
A pet owner and their cat attend a free veterinary clinic hosted by Blanchet House and Oregon Humane. Photo courtesy of Oregon Humane.
Keeping Pets and People Together
D. agreed to surrender the kittens to OH so they could receive health exams, move to foster care, and eventually be spayed or neutered. Bremken and Prevec carried kennels filled with kittens up the muddy hill to their cars. The kittens were placed in five foster homes.
“They could be on someone’s Christmas card this year,” Bremken said with a smile in her voice.
Kelly Bremken, a veterinary social worker with Oregon Humane.
Bremken rarely sees separation as the goal when helping clients who are struggling to care for their pets. Sometimes, difficult conversations still need to happen. She averages about 12 open cases each week, ranging from rehoming an animal to supporting a family through end-of-life decisions for their pet.
“We really do want to keep people and pets together,” Bremken said. “Even a great shelter like ours is not a place we want a pet long-term. Helping people through grief and loss is a big part of my work.”
That rainy morning on the hillside captures what makes veterinary social work so unique. It requires clinical training, emotional intelligence, and a deep respect for the bond between people and their animals.
For D., support began with Bremken recognizing his care and shared love of cats. Now, with a manageable number of animals, he can enjoy looking after them again.
For more information on supporting the Oregon Humane’s work, please visit their website. As of 2026, the Oregon Humane Society is now known as Oregon Humane.
