Hospital Visiting Hours with our Pets

Last night the Lady I rescued and I were watching our local evening news. I had to take a second look, what, a dog walking down a hospital aisle? What, a dog in his owner's hospital room getting cuddles? It seems that so-called educated healthcare professionals have finally realized that having patients' pets visit them in the hospital helps them recuperate! Yes! Rush University Medical Center adopted a new policy that allows cats and dogs to visit certain patients.

Well, not to be out done, we then watched our favorite Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News, hospital visits by pets is becoming a national epidemic! Faithful Friends at the University of Maryland Medical Center have adopted a similar policy. Pet-friendly hospital visits come with strict grooming, behavior, and medical screening. We are of course familiar with therapy dogs visiting hospitals but that is just not the same as having your own pet visit, right?

This is of course great news to hear, especially with looming health injuries over the Lady, causing her concern that if she had an extended hospital stay, she would want me to visit her. If this is the case, then knowing if your dog can visit you in the hospital while you are recuperating could influence your decision on choosing a hospital. Which makes you wonder if hospitals are smarter than you think when it comes to beating the competition.

Speaking seriously, understanding that us dogs are a member of the family, it is important to consider us when making those difficult decisions about what happens to us if we were to lose you, or vice versa.

Three years ago the Lady lost a dear aunt. Her beloved dog, Katy preceded her death. When the family knew it was Katy's time she was taken to the aunt's beside in the nursing home so that she could say goodbye. Needless to say, not a dry eye in the room. And even more touching, and understandable, at the aunt's funeral, her daughter and granddaughter made sure that Katy's ashes were placed with her.

It is so important to make wishes like these known to your family or have them put in a will. We're family too.

Love, Dolly the Doxie (mix)

xoxox