A new program at Juravinski Hospital in Ontario, Canada, allows for pets to visit their sick owners in an attempt to make them feel better.
While therapy dogs have been used for some time, this is the first program of its kind in Canada.
Donna Jenkins, founder of Zachary’s Paws for Healing, was inspired by her nephew, Zachary Noble. While fighting against Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Zachary wanted nothing more than to see his dog after undergoing a stem cell transplant.
“We sneaked Chase into ICU to see him and the effect it had on Zachary was remarkable. When Zachary realized he was not going to survive his cancer, he made me promise to start the organization. We had our official first patient visit September 15, 2015,” Jenkins told BoredPanda in an interview.
Juravinski Hospital immediately came on board, and with no small amount of work, the hospital executives, medical staff, and infection control and volunteer services got the program on its feet.
Scroll through below to see all of the incredible lives that have been touched thanks to this beautiful and effective program!
[H/T: BoredPanda]
This is Zachary, the inspiration behind Zachary's Paws for Healing.
After being in the hospital for many weeks, battling Hodgkin's lymphoma and receiving a stem cell transplant, his family snuck his dog Chase in to see him. The effect seeing Chase had on his owner was remarkable.
When Zachary realized he wasn't going to survive, he asked his aunt, Donna Jenkins, to start this incredible organization.
On September 15, 2015, Zachary's Paws for Healing officially began and welcomed its first visitor.
"We know that when patients get to see their pet, it can improve vital signs, improve depression, and the feeling of isolation," Jenkins told BoredPanda.
Thanks to the program, pet visits to Juravinski Hospital now occur weekly and are typically one hour long.
The animals are thoroughly cleaned before they're able to enter the hospital, and they are kept away from other patients as a courtesy.
When a pet visits his owner in the hospital, it delivers a healthy dose of home life for both the patient and the pet.
"It opens communication back up and it is a reminder for a reason for the patient to get well and return home," Jenkins told BoredPanda.
Thanks to the amazing volunteers at Zachary's Paws for Healing, this patient was able to be reunited with her horse, Luna.
Even if it was just for a short time, you can see the love and happiness she has for her animal. This visit gave her a reason to fight on.
The visits don't just benefit the human patient; the pets are always thrilled to see their owners, too!
"The pets are relieved to see them and to know they have not lost their human companion," Jenkins told BoredPanda.
This is a picture of Cuddles the cat with her owner Grace. You can probably guess what they did with their time together… cuddled!
It's easy for a patient to become overwhelmed with a feeling of isolation in a hospital, but every patient has a story.
This man, Mr. David Davies, is a long-term member of the senior retired men's entertainment group, the Spice Men. They sing and dance in the surrounding areas.
But while in the hospital, Davies was able to immensely benefit from a visit by his granddog, Ditzy.
Mr. Snels is getting some love and comfort from his pup Bandit after his tests and treatments. Bandit made sure everyone was aware he was there to see his human!
Pets are our chosen family. The volunteers for Zachary's Paws for Healing are doing amazing work by helping patients at Juravinski Hospital to see their companions.
The visits are good for their health, hearts, and souls, and will continue to provide patients with a sense of normalcy in a difficult time.
You can follow Zachary's Paws for Healing on Instagram or read all about their patient's happy reunions on their website.
What do you think of this program that brings pets to see their owners in the hospital? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to SHARE!
