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Michelle Nichols
President & Founder
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Professional Bio
Michelle’s passion for her life’s work in animal hospice began when her beloved Boxer Brodie, a cardiomyopathy patient of 5 years, entered his last chapter of life.
She and her family debated whether to return to the veterinary clinic where further treatment was no longer beneficial or, should she allow him to guide the way to a peaceful passing, in their home where he could be surrounded by those he loved?
With her human hospice nurse mother’s guidance, she was able to recognize the benefits of hospice principles for animals and chose the latter. She realized that she had been delivering hospice care for Brodie without even knowing it and became involved in the growing Animal Hospice and Palliative Care movement. Through knowledge gleaned from her professional counseling toolbox, she could help caregivers via education and support, from interdisciplinary team members working alongside the veterinary care team.
Through her nonprofit the Animal Hospice, End of Life, and Palliative Care Project founded in 2010, Michelle has been able to promote human hospice ideals to support animals and their family caregivers in the animal end-of-life experience. Through their mission to achieve comfort for the animal, they can help families examine their choices and then empower them to act on the end-of-life care plan when the appropriate times come.
Michelle has 10 years of experience in human healthcare counseling within an interdisciplinary team. She was on the Board of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care for six years, then became their President in 2019. She has presented at several IAAHPC conferences on the value of the interdisciplinary team in this emerging field and how her AHELP nonprofit model offers an affordable approach to reach more families.
She and her family debated whether to return to the veterinary clinic where further treatment was no longer beneficial or, should she allow him to guide the way to a peaceful passing, in their home where he could be surrounded by those he loved?
With her human hospice nurse mother’s guidance, she was able to recognize the benefits of hospice principles for animals and chose the latter. She realized that she had been delivering hospice care for Brodie without even knowing it and became involved in the growing Animal Hospice and Palliative Care movement. Through knowledge gleaned from her professional counseling toolbox, she could help caregivers via education and support, from interdisciplinary team members working alongside the veterinary care team.
Through her nonprofit the Animal Hospice, End of Life, and Palliative Care Project founded in 2010, Michelle has been able to promote human hospice ideals to support animals and their family caregivers in the animal end-of-life experience. Through their mission to achieve comfort for the animal, they can help families examine their choices and then empower them to act on the end-of-life care plan when the appropriate times come.
Michelle has 10 years of experience in human healthcare counseling within an interdisciplinary team. She was on the Board of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care for six years, then became their President in 2019. She has presented at several IAAHPC conferences on the value of the interdisciplinary team in this emerging field and how her AHELP nonprofit model offers an affordable approach to reach more families.