A Better Place

Breezy Man

One of the challenges hospice workers face is caring for terminally ill patients in the midst of a myriad of family dynamics. Caregivers are working through the emotional and physical aspects of caring for a dying family member while often coping with a stream of friends, family, extended family, neighbors and co-workers who call or visit to say goodbye. Estranged relationships add to the stress for some families and there may be financial constraints as well. Pets can offer support and comfort for the patient and caregiver, but there are times when a pet is in the midst of a difficult situation and re-homing is the best option for everyone concerned. Laura Savage, former PPOM Coordinator with Hospice of Baton Rouge tells the story:
        "On August 4th, I was notified by one of our nurses that she had a new patient, Frank, with a little German Shepherd mix puppy named "Breezy Man." The puppy needed treatment for a rash on his belly and Frank didn't have the resources to pay for treatment. He also needed help paying for pet food. I contacted the patient's sister, his caregiver, for more information about the little dog and explained our Pet Peace of Mind program. After getting a signed consent form from the patient, I purchased dog food, treats, shampoo and a grooming brush for "Breezy Man" and had it delivered to Frank's house. Since "Breezy Man" didn't have a veterinarian, I turned to our Consulting Veterinarian for help. Dr. Reed agreed to do a free initial exam for the dog and Frank's sister agreed to take him in for the appointment. The exam revealed that "Breezy Man" had mites causing the rash and needed his first vaccinations, so our Pet Peace of Mind program provided those, too.
      Several weeks later, Frank begin to decline, so he was moved to our in-patient hospice unit. His sister agreed to care for "Breezy Man" for the time being, but the family dynamics in the home made caring for the dog difficult.  We offered to help with finding a new home for the pup. Sarah declined at first, but later changed her mind and decided to let us help when the time came. In early October, Frank made the difficult decision to let "Breezy Man" go to a new home. I sent out an adoption request with the photo (above) to the hospice staff, board members and volunteers at 1:00 p.m. that day. By 5:00 p.m., "Breezy Man" had a new home with one of our board members. Pastor Mike and "Breezy Man" were a good fit.
      The following week, Frank's nurse informed me that he was beginning to transition. She asked if Pastor Mike would be comfortable bringing "Breezy Man" to visit Frank one more time. A couple of days later, the young dog came to visit. They both were very excited to see one another. The next day, Frank passed from this world to the next, knowing that he and "Breezy Man" were both in a better place."