For those of us who love pets, their companionship adds to the quality of our lives. For those who are terminally ill, pets also add a sense of normalcy to daily life, giving patients the chance to enjoy the time they have without constantly focusing on death and dying. A pet's acceptance and unconditional love provide comfort while the patient is going through the loss of independence and physical stamina common to many terminal conditions. Many patients are fearful that their pets will be taken away from them as they decline, by people who don't understand how significant they are to the patient's spiritual and emotional well-being. Such was the case with a hospice in the Northeast. A terminally ill man made an appointment with a local hospice and was told that the hospice would not admit him as a patient unless he gave away his two dogs. Believing he had no where else to turn for help, he did just that. Another local hospice, in the process of making application to the Pet Peace of Mind program, got wind of the situation before he was admitted and intervened. They told this grieving man that he did not have to give up his two dogs in order to have hospice care. The hospice staff even went so far as to find his dogs and reunite them with him.
Other patients have been told by well-meaning people that they shouldn't care as much as they do for their pets--that there is something wrong with their attachment to them during this time. Instead of supporting the patient by helping with their pet's care, family and friends encourage them to give them up. Patients find themselves caught between their dependency on other humans and the need for their pets' love and companionship. After such a decision has been made, these patients are left grieving and guilt-ridden at a time when they should be focused on other unfinished business.
Pet Peace of Mind is so much more than a program that pays for veterinary care and pet food. It validates the relationship between pets and patients, giving them the freedom to enjoy one another's company at a time when they need each other the most. We are so proud to be associated with hospices that understand this and want to partner with us to keep patients and pets together.
