Thursday, June 20, 2013

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

18 comments:

  1. So well said. Some of the big pet charities here have a free service that if something should happen to the owner the charity will step in and re home their pet(s). It gives peace of mind if you are alone without close family. Have a tremendous Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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    1. Thanks Molly! My grandma's senior center registered everyone and their pets. And this is why. Love Dolly

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  2. That is why Mom trained me to be a therapy dog. I use to go visit the veterans home and the aged homes in our area. Mom says she will always remember seeing eyes light up when ever I came into the room and of coarse the peeps loved loved loved running their fingers through my furs. I must admit - I sure didn't mind the patting or the cookies they would sneak me :)

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    1. I don't think I knew you were a therapy dog! Mom would love for me to be one it sounds so rewarding! Especially the cookies! Love Dolly

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  3. Hospitals are finally getting smarter. And that's a very good thing for everyone..pet and human alike!

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  4. We agree that pet's should be allowed in hospitals! We know that when we visit our Omi in the nursing home, many faces light up and that makes our hearts sing.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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    1. That's great you get to visit in the nursing home, ever that's not allowed some places! Love Dolly

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  5. This is pawesome news, Dolly!!! We should be able to visit our people when they are in hospital. Dogs are great medicine!
    *Cairn cuddles*
    Oz

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  6. We included our furry friends in our will. I am so glad that this is becoming more accepted too!!

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  7. Momz has put me in her will and made sure I will be going somewhere I know with people I love in case anything happens to her...The idea of allowing pets to visit in hospitals is just great...I can only imagine how much it lifts the patients' spirits

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    1. That is good to know that you will be taken care of if something happens to your loved ones. Love Dolly

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  8. That's wonderful! Having a beloved pet visit their owner will make a world of difference in their recovery. What a wonderful and smart change in policy!

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  9. We saw it on the news too. It is soooo nice that they started this programs as before only certain dogs are allowed which is not the same having your dog visits you. Lots of Golden Woof,Sugar

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  10. LOVE this idea!! While visiting hospitals with my therapy dog, people were always commenting about how much they missed their own companion animals. Great post!

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