Three organizations join forces to honor Dr Sophia Yin

Editor's note: This article includes discussions of suicide, depression, and mental health issues. If you are experiencing feelings of depression or suicidal ideation, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 998. It's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In honor of the 8^th anniversary of Sophia Yin’s, DVM, death, VIN, VIN Foundation, and CattleDog Publishing are highlighting her contributions and achievements within veterinary medicine. A tribute article titled The Low Stress Handling Movement: How Sophia and Her CattleDog Started It All! written by Christine Calder, DVM, DACVB, was published earlier this month to pay tribute to her contributions.

Sophia Yin, DVM (Image Courtesy of CattleDog Publishing)

The passion, experiences, and scientific-based teaching Yin exhibited helped to transform the veterinary industry with some of her techniques still being used daily. According to the organizational release, Yin created the Low Stress Handling methods for dogs and cats in the early 2000s after deciding her lifelong passion was to educate veterinarians and pet professionals about animal behavior. She then added another part, Ten General Principles of Handling, which is currently the core concept for certification programs such as Fear Free Pets and the American Association of Feline Practitioner's Cat Friendly Practices.

Yin also introduced the scientific method and learning theory to veterinary professionals through hands-on training for the fundamentals of animal behavior with an emphasis on specific causes and effects of behavior and how learners will only repeat what was desired and undesired reinforced. She would use visual examples from her collection of videos and photographs as well as studies showing how positive punishment can increase fear and anxiety in pets.

After her untimely death, her mother chose the VIN Foundation to create the Dr. Sophia Memorial Fund and to house the Small Animal Nerdbook. Donations made in Yin’s honor help support the VIN Foundation’s Vets4Vets, a resource that provides help to veterinary professionals that face the challenges like the ones that consumed Yin.

Along with the achievements Yin had during her life, her death inspired the foundation of Not One Move Vet – an organization dedicated to supporting veterinary professionals and students experiencing a mental health crisis including suicidal ideation and thoughts.²

References

1. VIN Foundation, VIN, and CattleDog Publishing Partner to Honor Dr. Sophia Yin's Legacy. News release. VIN Foundation. September 28, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vin-foundation-vin-and-cattledog-publishing-partner-to-honor-dr-sophia-yins-legacy-301634647.html
2. Story. Not One More Vet. Published February 27, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://www.nomv.org/about/story