Frankie is one of 32 pets that volunteer at the hospital. “Right now we have 27 dogs, 1 cat, 2 bunnies, 1 pig and 1 rat,” says Cathy Bones, pet therapy coordinator at the hospital.
Posted on 03/29/2013 10:40:11 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows
Anyone who has shared their life with a companion animal and bonded closely has experienced a healing relationship. We are truly blessed with their capacity to offer unconditional love. Just being in their presence gives us such an abundance of joy and happiness.
It’s an undisputed fact that animals are highly intuitive beings who excel in the art of healing. The majority of cat lovers will wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing more relaxing and soothing than having a purring kitty on their lap. In fact, those of us who are insomniacs are often quickly lulled off to dreamland.
Animals help humans in so many ways, by teaching us about unconditional love, trust and loyalty. As a result, companion animals often make excellent therapists. Given the right temperament and appropriate training, pets that are used in animal-assisted therapeutic programs, give great solace to elderly nursing home residents and make a huge difference in their lives. Therapy cats and dogs can greatly transform the lives of folks suffering from stress disorders and those who are lonely and depressed.
Despite the healing ability of the human-pet relationship, the majority of hospitals in the United States refuse to authorize their patients to have even a short visit with their beloved furry family member. Hospital administrators justify their refusal to allow pets for visits with concerns that range from the risk of infection to libel.
But according to The Commercial Appeal, after three years of analysis over logistics, cleanliness and costs and believing that the benefits outweigh the risks, Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center has joined a dozen other hospitals around the country by compassionately opening their doors to allow patients to receive visits from their pets in their rooms.
Before this forward-thinking decision was made, some sympathetic staff sometimes arranged “clandestine” visits for patients be with their pets. Others looked the other way while a visitor snuck an adored kitty or pooch into a patient’s room for a few minutes. However the good news is that all of that subterfuge is a thing of the past, since pet visits are now out in the open and totally legal.
This said the hospital does have a few regulations for pet visits. Only cats and dogs are presently allowed. Everyone concerned must consent to the visit, including the attending physician. If the pet has an "accident" the pet handler must clean up the mess. Environmental services will then sanitize the area. The pet must be bathed and groomed prior to the visit and is not allowed to interact with any other patients.
A patient at Rush University Medical Center who has ovarian cancer expressed her gratitude about being able to spend some quality time with her pet Dachshund said, “It just gives me a little piece of home. It’s just wonderful to have someone to hug and help me deal with things.” I can only imagine the joy of other Rush patients are feeling, being able to spend precious moments with their beloved furry friend
I’ve got a feeder for them when I have to be gone.
They get left outside (we’re in the country) with
the porches open for shelter.
Lizzy is always mad when I get back.. not because of
any hardship but at the busting of the routine.
Malcolm wakes up and says “Dude, the door has been broke for like DAYS I guess”.
Frankie is one of 32 pets that volunteer at the hospital. “Right now we have 27 dogs, 1 cat, 2 bunnies, 1 pig and 1 rat,” says Cathy Bones, pet therapy coordinator at the hospital.
Yeah right. There aren’t enough infection control problems in hospitals as it is.
Can I bring some chickens into the hospital to pay my bill?
I love dogs and cats but this is NOT a good idea.
My GOD, save us from ourselves, we are almost too stupid to exist.
I have mixed feelings about it: I would be concerned about any possible impact on other patients due to hygiene issues. When my wife was dying, I was hoping to be able to get her home to hospice care, and I mentioned to the nurses that I was hoping she would be able to see her cat one last time (among other things). They said: “Bring it in! We’ll let you.” But I really couldn’t do that. Fortunately, she did get to go home for that last three days of her life, and her cat jumped up into the hospital bed and slept with her there part of the time. I think she appreciated that.
I’m sure she did.
This is one of those times the saying, “The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions” comes to mind.
Bacteria epidemics in hospitals today are bad enough without bringing pets into the mix.
No kidding!!
It is proved animals have an healing effect on people, especially the young and the old.
> Chicago Hospital Allows Pets to Visit Patients
Makes total sense. Pet hospitals allow humans.
Apparently many hospitals are doing this. Just last week a friend of mine was in the hospital in Jackson Michigan and he told me his daughter brought his dog up to see him.
If you actually read the article, you would know that the animals are expected to be freshly bathed, shots, the works, and right there in the second paragraph it clearly states that the pet handler is expected to clean up any “accidents”, followed by the hospital’s environmental services (janitors) sanitizing the area.
There are extraordinarily few pathogens that are communicable between pets and humans, and those that are would show on the pet, barring the critter from entry to the facility.
The hysterical and panicked style of your response makes it rather obvious you have had little to no experience with well-socialized pets. Your pit bull comment only accents your ignorance about the VAST majority of pets.
I pity your type.
“[I think that someone doesn’t know the difference between “libel” and “liability.”]”
LOL.
Thank you and Hairy for your kindness.
There is a fair bit of research out that shows the positive health benefits to owning pets. So, to me, it makes sense that allowing the pets to visit in the hospital is a beneficial thing. And it appears that issues such as cleanliness, etc. will be taken into account.
And let’s face it, with Ocare implementation, there isn’t going to be much health care so a visit from the pooch might be all the ‘medicine’ some people will get.
That too. ;^)
Except for gay pets! lol
They’re visiting, not marrying.
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