Amir Shanan, DVM, CHPV®
Animal Hospice Group Founder
Founder Profile
Described as a “mix of philosopher, ethicist, counselor, and veterinarian”, Dr. Shanan has helped thousands of pets and their families make the end of life a meaningful and cherished experience by providing information, nonjudgmental support, and guidance in making the most difficult decisions. Dr. Shanan is a recognized pioneer and leader in the emerging field of animal hospice and palliative care. He is the founder of the IAAHPC, and the visionary behind the first guidelines for best practices, the first textbook, and the most extensive advanced professional training program in the field.
Certifications, Education & Associations
- CHPV® [Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian]
- 1979 Received his BS in Biology from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
- 1985 Received his DVM from Michigan State University.
- IAAHPC, International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
- AVMA, American Veterinary Medical Association, member
- CVMA, Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, lifetime member
Additional Information
- 1985-present Settled in Chicago, practicing companion animal veterinarian in private practice.
- 1995 Founded Compassionate Veterinary Care, a companion animal practice offering in-home medical, consultation, and euthanasia services for companion animals.
- 1998 Completed human hospice volunteer training in preparation for expanding Compassionate Veterinary Care’s hospice services.
- 2008 Attended the 1st International Symposium on Veterinary Hospice Care in Davis, CA., and realized the need for a professional organization dedicated to continuing education and to fostering discourse between all stakeholders in this developing field.
- 2008 Completed Northwestern University's School of Medicine Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care curriculum [EPEC, for MDs].
- 2009 Founded the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC).
- 2009-2011 Served as IAAHPC’s founding president.
- 2011 Contributing author to the May 2011 issue of the Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice, dedicated to Veterinary Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care.
- 2011 Contributing author to the International Veterinary Academy for Pain Management [IVAPM] Guidelines for Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care.
- 2012 Completed a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Board Certification Exam preparatory course [for MDs].
- 2012 Founded Compassionate Veterinary Hospice, a veterinary practice dedicated to providing geriatric, palliative and hospice care services.
- 2013 Principle author, IAAHPC Guidelines for Recommended Practices in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care.
- 2015 Contributing author to Pain Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, M.E. Goldberg, N. Shaffran, Editors, Wiley and Sons.
- 2015-2019, Visionary and Founding Co-chair, IAAHPC Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Certification Program.
- 2016 Co-chair, AAHA/IAAHPC expert panel authoring End of Life Care for Dogs and Cats Practice Guidelines (AAHANET.org, 2016).
- 2017, Editor, Hospice and Palliative Care for Companion Animals: Principles and Practice, 1st Edition, Wiley and Sons (find on Amazon).
- 2020 Founding Partner, The Animal Hospice Group.
- 2023, Editor, Hospice and Palliative Care for Companion Animals: Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition, Wiley and Sons (find on Amazon).
Amir holding the first bound journal dedicated to AHPC.
"Caregiving in the face of the impending loss of a loved one is a tremendous challenge, offering the possibility of cherished memories that last a lifetime. Compassionate and knowledgeable support helps make these possibilities a reality. Offering such compassionate and knowledgeable support can be tremendously rewarding for the person providing support, for a profound win-win experience."
~ Amir Shanan, AHG Founder