From Warren Eckstein - More hospices stepping in to take care of patients' pets
May-09-2012

Niobe and Cha-Cha raced to the couch toward hospice volunteerJim Hays during a visit to the Four Corners home of patient Joseph Luciano.
The pooches competed to get the volunteer's attention, barking and wildly wagging their tails. They darted off only after he rubbed behind their ears.
"They took to me right away," said Hays, 64. "I just visit with them and show them a little attention - and I bring treats. It's just part of the visit."
In Central Florida, hospice volunteers are stepping in more and more to care for the pets of dying patients - feeding and walking dogs, administering flea medication, driving pets to the groomer or veterinarian and more.
"Hospice is supposed to take care of the patient and the family," said Lisa Gray, volunteer department manager of Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care, which serves seven counties including Lake, Orange and Osceola. "For a lot of them, their family is their pet."
Cornerstone, which rolled out the pet-care program a few months ago in Lake, paid to board Luciano's dogs while the 85-year-old Navy veteran, his wife, Adriana, and Hays took a weekend trip to Pensacola. The hospice organization plans to offer the pet program to patients in Orange and Osceola counties within the next few weeks.
Adriana Luciano, 61, said she's still able to feed and walk the dogs - Niobe is a bichon frise and Cha-Cha a mixed breed - in between caring for her ailing husband. However, she said it's a relief to have Cornerstone in case she needs help with the dogs, who sleep with them in the bedroom.
"They're like children. We can't leave them alone for more than a few hours," she said.
Throughout the country, hospices are starting to recognize the therapeutic benefits of keeping the animal and owner together until the end, said Delana Taylor McNac, founder and manager of Pet Peace of Mind, a national organization that works with other hospices around the country. Nationwide, 50 hospices offer the program.

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