IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED PRESS
(RNS) — Sarah Bowen says she’s been doing the work of an animal chaplain since she was 6 years old.
Raised in the Midwest as a Presbyterian preacher’s kid, she was often hauled to hospice facilities and funeral homes but noticed that the chipmunks and other animals crumpled by the side of the road weren’t treated with the same compassion shown to people.
RECENT & UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
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November 2026: American Academy of Religion - Innovations in Spiritual Care Unit; Denver, CO; "Mapping Veterinary Chaplaincy, ANimal Chaplaincy, and Interspecies Spiritual Care: Expanding the Boundaries of Chaplaincy Practice"
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November 2026: American Academy of Religion - Animals & Religion Unit; Denver, CO "Pre-conference Workshop: Experiential Religious Studies Pedagogies for Flourishing Animal & Multispecies Futures"
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August 2026: Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics; Oxford, England "Art and Visual Mourning as a Strategy for Animal Protection"
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July 2026: Save the Dogs, New York, NY "Defending Compassion: Nonviolent Tactics Training for Animal Activists"
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July 2026: Conscious Dying Collective, "Honoring the Animal-Human Bond in Life and Death"
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June 2026: Association of Professional Chaplains; Baton Rouge, LA; "Interspecies Chaplaincy: Mapping Spiritual Care for Human–Animal Relationships Across Clinical and Veterinary Settings"
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April 2026 Animal Care Expo; Pittsburgh, PA; Humane World for Animals Annual Conference; Conference Workshop: “'What Should I Do?': Tackling Moral Distress in Clinics, Shelters, Rehabs, & Sanctuaries"
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February 2026 National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association SymposiumBaton Rouge, LA; Presentation: "Grace Under Pressure: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Wildlife Care"
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June 2025 American Association of Veterinary Chaplains; Presentation & Discussion: "Creating Healing Rituals: Supporting Humans After Animal Loss"
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Shelter Animal Reiki Association July 2025
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In Defense of Animals, "Vegan Spirituality: Rev Sarah Bowen Ordains Animal Chaplains," June 12, 2025
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BarkFest, "Loving and Losing Pets with E.B. Bartels, Rev Sarah Bowen, and Karen Fine," May 27, 2025
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Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, "The Animal-Human Bond: Integrating Animals Into Spiritual Care," May 8, 2025
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Animal Care Pro - Humane World for Animals Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, April 2025
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Shelter Animal Reiki Assocation, April 2025
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The Spiritual Forum Podcast, "Episode 294 - Animal Chaplaincy - A Sacred Service with Rev. Sarah Bowen."Jan 21, 2025
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Our Hen House Podcast, "Animal Lives and Deaths with Sarah Bowen," August 16, 2024
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Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, "Animal Mindfulness," 5-day in-person workshop, June 2024
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Sama Dog, "Insights through Animal Mindfulness," April 6, 2024
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Hope for the Animals, "Animal Chaplaincy and the Spiritual Lives of Animals with Rev. Sarah Bowen," Feb 9, 2024
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Animal Care Pro - Humane Society of the United States Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, April 2024
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One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, "Animal Funerals & Habitat Memorials," Workshop, Sunday, March 24, 2024
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United Palace NYC, "Interspecies Spirituality: Open Heart Conversation with Rev. Sarah Bowen," May 3, 2023
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Animal Care Pro - Humane Society of the United States Annual Conference, New Orlean, Louisiana, April 2023
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Roots & Roads, October 2022
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Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, July 19, 2022
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Best Friends National Conference, July 6, 2022
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Compassionate Badassery Lab, May, 2022
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Compassion Consortium Book Talk, April 12, 2022
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"The Gathering" at One Spirit, March 31, 2022
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Spiritual Directors International 4-part Webinar Series, March 9, 2022
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MLK Beloved Community Convergence, Four Worlds Circles, January 17, 2021
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Campaign Non-violence Action Week, Sept 19, 2021
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A World That Works for All Conference, Unity Village, Oct 1-3, 2021
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Parliament of the World's Religions, Oct 17-18, 2021
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Compassion Arts Festival with Marc Bekoff, Nov 16, 2021
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United Nations Interfaith Harmony Week, Feb 5, 2021​
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SELECT ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
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AARP, "Animal Chaplains Help Older Adults Grieve Their Beloved Pets," March 2025 (paywall)
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Animal Culture Magazine, July 2022 (paywall)
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Psychology Today, April 2022: Animal Emotions with Marc Bekoff
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Planet Friendly News, Issue No, 41 Bringing Spirituality into Animal and Planetary Welfare
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Religion News Service, Vatican News Desk, Feb 2, 2022: Pope Francis called pet owners selfish. An animal chaplain says he sells love short.
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Religion Dispatches, Scolding Those Who Choose Pets But No Children, Pope Misses the Rainforest for the Trees, Jan 11, 2022
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Parabola Journal, "They Do Not Need Our Permission: Do birds practice mindfulness? Are chimps religious? The promise and wonder of animal spirituality" by Sarah Bowen (paywall)
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Light of Consciousness Magazine. "Enduring Connections: Our animal companions have not vanished. They have been transformed" (print only)
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Tricycle: The Buddhist Review,“You Have a Church for Cats?” The Service of an Animal Chaplain (interview)
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Spirituality & Health Magazine. How I Became a Animal Chaplain & Why it Matters
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Sift. Shift. Lift. Sifting, Shifting, & Lifting with Sarah Bowen
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Elephant Journal. The Lion Thing: A Powerful Meditation with Big Cats & Cozy Kitties
TV
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Good Day, DC, Fox 5 News, April 19, 2022
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Morning Show, Hartford, Fox 61 News, April 11, 2022
RADIO
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Spirit Talk Live with Rabbi Wayne Dosick, Positive Talk Radio
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PASt PODCASTS
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All Creatures (Conservation) with Chris Mortensen, PhD
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Heard Around the Barn with Kathy Stevens & Catskill Animal Sanctuary
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Sacred Sendoffs and Animal Companions with Sarah Bowen on Big Universe Podcast
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Hope for the Animals with Hope Bohanec
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Spirituality & Health's Essential Conversations with Rabbi Rami Shapiro
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JaneUnchained with Jane Velez Mitchell
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Main Street Vegan with Victoria Moran
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I'm Awake! Now What? with Krista Xiomara
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Mother Earth Rising with Pippa Leslie​