Did you know pets can visit the hospice?

Pets bring patients so much comfort, so naturally being able to bring your loved ones dog, cat, bunny or even horse to visit them is important to us at the hospice. 

We regularly have visits from our little four-legged friends and they bring lots of joy. Recently we had a family at the hospice who brought their treasured cat in to see their dad. He curled up on his bed and helped the whole family relax at the hospice. We currently have a beautiful little dog with a patient, helping him feel like he was at home. It has helped him settle at the hospice and enabled him to feel comfortable enough to stay for pain management and then when he’s ready he will go back home.


Would you believe we even arranged for a patient to see her horse one last time, it was her final wish and we were able to make that happen for her.

“Bringing our dog into the hospice was something we never expected. I just happened to mention to one of the nurses that my husband was missing our dog, Bobby and they suggested bringing her in! I was shocked but jumped at the chance. We had spent 14 years with the fluffy ball of fur around us, causing mischief as they do. She was a huge part of our lives, especially when the kids grew up and left home and the house felt so bare. Every day she would curl up with John on the sofa while he was reading the paper. It’s only a small thing and I don’t think he even realised how important it was to him at the time, but he missed it dearly. Within an hour I was back at the hospice with Bobby and a newspaper and the smile on his face as we walked in was amazing, I will never forget it. The hospice did that! Since John has died, I make sure I sit on the sofa of an evening with the paper’s crossword and cuddle up with Bobby and every time it reminds me of that moment.” Wendy
 
You may also have seen Pearl, our volunteer dog who comes with her owner Glynis. Pearl greets visitors upon their arrival at the hospice and often spends time with patients and their families bringing such smiles to their faces.