Pet owners are special people, they often have a bond with their pets that is very strong.

Especially for those who live alone and have had a pet for many years.

When they are dying many people long to be able to have their pet close, be it a cat, dog or horse. 

At Hospice we allow visitors to bring the patient's pet in for a visit.

They can bring it in in a cage if it’s a cat and the cat can be petted by the patient or on the lead if it’s a dog.

Animals know far more than we give them credit for and even the bounciest little dog once seeing its owner in the Inpatient Unit will settle and stay close, allowing the love to pass between them and to say goodbye. 

Animals are often forgotten during the dying process and can feel very lost and alone once their owner has died.

We try to help this process by allowing the patient’s pet to visit.

We have had a variety of pets and even a horse came once to say goodbye to its owner.  

Most hospices have a resident pet, we have Tessa the cat.

She’s very fat but very dignified.

She has her special people she deals with. Nurse Haidee and Doctor Neil are the current favorites.

She can even waddle into the CEO's office but that’s usually only to signal she’d like to go out for a pee.

We all love her (well most of us, there are a few she is yet to convert), and we all know how important a patient’s pet is to them.