Hospice patients, pets focus of Pet Peace of Mind, which has Vancouver branch
Hospice patients, pets focus of Pet Peace of Mind, which has Vancouver branch
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA)
November 30, 2023
... Pet Peace of Mind is a nationwide nonprofit that allows hospice patients to worry less about their pets’ care. The program partners with hospice and health care agencies—one of which is in Vancouver—to provide services, such as feeding, exercise, grooming and veterinary visits for end-of-life patients who are unable to take care of their beloved animals. And in the case of a patient dying, the program will find the pet a new family. “As a family member, when you’re experiencing significant loss, it’s not only a very emotional time, you are often overwhelmed with the grieving process so it is very helpful to have a company that is empathetic and takes that burden away,” [Belinda] Walker said. “The program was a little miracle.” The program was created in 2009 by Dianne McGill who, at the time, was working for a different health care organization. One day, she received a call that someone in end-of-life care needed help finding a new home for their pet. After helping this patient, McGill realized there was a gap in the health care and pet industries in providing this type of care. Over the last 14 years, the program has popped up across the United States—training hospice and health care workers and volunteers. “There is a lot of anxiety for patients, particularly what is going to happen to their pets after they pass,” said Christy Bork, program manager for Pet Peace of Mind. “So, we train our partners so that we avoid pets ending up in the shelter system.” The Pet Peace of Mind program is free to all clients, but it relies solely on donations. ... Sheryl Reeder, volunteer coordinator for Eden Hospice, said the program is vital for not only the mental health of the patient but also the animal. From dogs and cats to lizards and horses, the program offers assistance for all pet types. “We’ve re-homed an entire 5-gallon fish tank once,” Reeder said. “We’ve re-homed ducks, bunny rabbits, just about every kind of pet.” Reeder said the program tries to work with the patient ahead of time on where their pet will go so they are part of the decision-making process. But Reeder said the focus of the program is to keep people and their pets together for as long as possible.