I continue to receive questions about disputes involving animal companions—both from separating couples with animal companions and from others with complaints about the veterinary services they received. I’ve written previously about couples using mediation to reach agreements over custody of pets, so the following will focus on disputes with veterinarians.

 A colleague referred me to the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS) in the U.K., which is funded by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and provides free sessions for people with animals and veterinary practices. Those with a complaint can request mediation assistance online. Then a VCMS Resolution Manager contacts each party by phone or email, secures agreement to mediate, gathers information, and continues to work with both independently to explore options for settlement, which might include meeting face-to-face.

 VCMS reports handling some 4,000 cases annually with an 85% settlement rate for disputes over fees and an approximate 70% settlement rate for disputes over services.

 As would be expected, not all clients were satisfied with the service and voiced their dissatisfaction online. Owners can be very involved and emotional when it comes to disputes tied to their animal companions. Evidence shows compared to dental and medical practices, veterinarians are more likely to be victims of cyberbullying. Veterinarians themselves, for a variety of reasons, have suicide rates twice that of other medical professions and four times that of the general population.

 Disputes with veterinarians regarding animals can be emotional and stressful for all involved. Mediation is the ideal way to address such disputes. Unfortunately, no equivalent to the VCMS exists in the United States. Instead, parties are urged to seek the guidance of local community mediation services.

This July 4th week, it’s fitting to review how our national dispute resolution skills developed throughout history.

In 1793, Founding Father Benjamin Rush proposed a peace office for the country on equal footing with the Department of War. In the decades following several representatives and senators, including Everett Dirksen, Daniel Inouye, Edmund Muske, Ed Koch, and Dennis Kucinich, have introduced legislation to create a Department of Peace. Military veterans Mark Hatfield and Spark Matsunaga led Congress in the passage of the United States Institute Peace Act signed into law by President Reagan, which established an institute to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts among nations and peoples.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) was formed under the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 to provide mediation during labor disputes. Over the years the FMCS had several notable mediators as director, including Cyrus S. Ching, William E. Simkin, and W. J. “Bill” Usery. Today, FMCS mediators are also available to provide training on a variety of dispute resolution skills.

In the public sector, community mediation centers developed from two concerns. One was in response to growing dissatisfaction with the legal justice system and the other a product of the social activism of the 1960s. Today’s centers provide mediation in both the courts and the community, as well as mediation training.

In public schools, peer programs trained a limited amount of students in mediation skills. Additionally, a small number of colleges, universities and law schools began offering courses in mediation and conflict management.

John W. Gardner, former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, founder of Common Cause, and author wrote about conflict resolution in his book, “On Leadership.” He surmised we have an infinite capacity for disputes within our families, businesses, and goverments, suggesting that Conflict Resolution be a subject commonly taught in our schools.