[Slings and Arrows]

OK, that's exactly one good thing to come out of Chicago.

[Slings and Arrows]

[Slings and Arrows]

Doggie ping!

[basil]

Yep!

(’bout the only thing I can think of offhand—LOL!)

[KarlInOhio]

Hospital administrators justify their refusal to allow pets for visits with concerns that range from the risk of infection to libel.

Libel? My roommate's parrot publicly defamed me! I'm going to sue the hospital.

[ilovesarah2012]

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!

[Ann Archy]

Who cleans up the "accidents"?? What about FLEAS?? What about BARKING and waking patients?? What about Pet DANDER?? What about others that are ALLERGIC?? What if two dogs get into a fight??? What about PITBULLS?? What a STUPID idea.....sounds lovely, though.

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!!

[stuartcr]

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.

[humblegunner]

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.

[Sacajaweau]

Says only cats and dogs are allowed now...What ...no bears or snakes??? That’s prejudice.

[43north]

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.

[Solidstatechemist]

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.

[geologist]

We have a up scale nursing home here in West Texas that allows patients to bring their animals to stay with them. Of course the animals must adjust to the new surrounding and not be any trouble being anti social in the day to day life. VERY GOOD IDEA.

It is proved animals have an healing effect on people, especially the young and the old.

[Ditter]

One of my dogs is a therapy dog and we regularly go to convalescent homes for visits with the patients. We belong to a group called Faithful Paws in Houston and I don't know how many 100 people and their pets belong and we all do this. Even people who do not belong to our group can ask for permission to visit a patient in the hospital. Hairy and I have done this outside the group several times.

[Jyotishi]

> Chicago Hospital Allows Pets to Visit Patients

Makes total sense. Pet hospitals allow humans.

[cripplecreek]

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.

[iceskater]

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.

[Fledermaus]

Except for gay pets! lol

[Cementjungle]

OK, that's exactly one good thing to come out of Chicago.

Possibly, but they're probably thinking of conjugal visits.