Pet Peace of Mind
From television, there’s Timmy and his trusty Collie, Lassie. At the movies, there’s “The Wizard of Oz’s” Dorothy and her heroic Toto. And you can’t ignore Charlie Brown’s close friendship with Snoopy. The list goes on and on when you think about humans and their pet companions. The bond between human and pet is one of the strongest that someone can experience. Pets offer unconditional love, acceptance, comfort and companionship. This relationship becomes vitally important for patients under hospice care.
At Chapters Health System, a ground-breaking national program is offered with the goal of keeping hospice patients and pets together — Pet Peace of Mind.
What is Pet Peace of Mind?
Pet Peace of Mind is a program supporting hospice patients and their pets by encouraging them to have a plan should they ever be unable to care for their animal companions. Cornerstone Hospice, an affiliate of Chapters Health, was the first in Florida to offer this unique program.
How Does the Program Keep Patients and Pets Together?
Team members and volunteers assist patients with pet planning and, on some occasions, locating new homes for pets. The animals are able to stay with their family until the need arises to move to a new home.
Patients have peace of mind, knowing their beloved pet will be placed in a loving home.
What Does the Program Offer?
With the assistance of community volunteers, Pet Peace of Mind offers the following:
- Dog walking
- Delivery of pet food
- Transporting pets to groomers and veterinary appointments
- Cleaning litter boxes
- Fostering a patient’s pet as needed
- Visiting pet parent at a facility
- Etc.
How Do the Volunteers Help?
Chapters Health volunteers are specially trained to provide in-home pet care assistance when the patient needs help caring for a pet. With this compassionate support, Chapters Health makes sure chronically ill patients are worry-free when it comes to their pets’ current or future needs.
For more information about Pet Peace of Mind, planning for your pets or how to become a Pet Peace of Mind volunteer, please email [email protected]. Or please feel free to send us a message by filling out the form HERE.