Hospital Lets Pets Visit Their Sick Humans To Make Them Feel Better

by pawbuzz on in Dogs 105

Juravinski hospital in Ontario, Canada allows pets to visit their seriously ill humans. The hospital adopted a program called Zachary’s Paws for Healing, launched by Donna Jenkins. She was inspired by her 25-year-old nephew, Zachary, who benefited greatly from having his dogs around him while he was battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“While Zachary was in the hospital for many weeks and very sick after having a stem cell transplant,  he begged to see his dog, Chase,” says Jenkins. “We sneaked Chase into ICU to see him and the effect it had on Zachary was remarkable. When Zachary realized he was not going to survive his cancer, he made me promise to start the organization. We had our official first patient visit September 15, 2015.”

More: 20 Things All Dog Owners Must Never Forget. The Last One Brought Me To Tears…

“We know that when patients get to see their pet, it can improve vital signs, improve depression and the feeling of isolation, it opens communication back up and it is a reminder for a reason for the patient to get well and return home.” The visits are weekly and they usually take 1 hour. The pets are thoroughly cleaned before entering the hospital and they are kept away from other patients.

More info: zacharyspawsforhealing.com | Facebook

Juravinski hospital in Ontario, Canada allows pets to visit their seriously ill humans

The hospital adopted a program called Zachary’s Paws for Healing, launched by Donna Jenkins

“When patients get to see their pet, it can improve vital signs, improve depression and the feeling of isolation,” Jenkins told Bored Panda

“It opens communication back up and it is a reminder for a reason for the patient to get well and return home”

“Having a pet visit its human brings some normalcy back to the patient’s life”

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105 thoughts on “Hospital Lets Pets Visit Their Sick Humans To Make Them Feel Better”

  3. Amy Fedorczuk

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    when my mom was alive and in the hospital for something unrelated, i put her dog in a bag and we brought her to the hospital for a visit.. they were both so happy.. of course her dog was a lot lighter then.. lol.. shes a porker now.

  13. Kathy Fortna

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    A friends of mine takes her therapy dogs to visit patients at Harrisburg Hospital. Often a patient asks to cuddle in bed with the dog. I don’t know if other hospitals allow this. Some nursing homes are OK with pet visits too.

  21. Fran Appel

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    oh my god yes that is a great idea,if I would have to go to a hospital for more then 2 days I either would go home because I would miss my dog that much or they let my baby in !Love the idea.

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