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
Doggie ping!
Yep!
(’bout the only thing I can think of offhand—LOL!)
Libel? My roommate's parrot publicly defamed me! I'm going to sue the hospital.
Succinct and unambiguous.
I work at a nursing home and we let family bring pets to the residents so long as they are well-behaved and have their shots. We also have a woman from the local humane society bring a different puppy every week to visit the residents. Most of them love it. And several staff members have adopted the pups. A win/win!
My friend just had a shoulder replacement and had to buy a VERY EXPENSIVE SOAP to clean herself with one WEEK before she came in for the operation because of GERMS and infections running rampant in the hospitals!!
Would love to see the parrot cross-examined in court!
Cats can be quite derisive.
[I think that someone doesn’t know the difference between “libel” and “liability.”]
They have some dogs that visit in the waiting room at the oncology center where my wife goes. The people with the dogs always carry some disinfectant wipes for those that want to pet the animals.
I don’t think my cats would appreciate a trip to a hospital, but if it works for some folks and pets then good on ‘em.
Deimos would hate the Big Mac box, but love the attention. The other two...not happening.
OMG
pets to visit patients?....well, how about a pig?..there's some folks that think they're pig is their pet....
what about ferrets?.....there's whole clubs out there with pt adoring their little ferrets....
what about someone that doesn't want animal hair or smells around them.....
do other people have any rights at all?...
maybe the solution would be to have one pet visiting area where the pts go to visit their pets....not having pets coming into the pts rooms where food, drink, medicines are being distributed...
The first time Polly says “cracker”...he’s friccase
Reasonable accommodation, that.
Says only cats and dogs are allowed now...What ...no bears or snakes??? That’s prejudice.
LOL
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