Buffy...He's a Boy

Buffy and his owner

While most of the care that the Pet Peace of Mind program provides for patients' pets falls under the banner of routine care, like vaccinations or grooming, occasional emergency situations arise. Terri Roberts, Pet Peace of Mind Coordinator for Columbus Hospice in Georgia, shares the story of a cat named Buffy....er, Buffy the boy.

"When we began our program in January 2010, I wanted to provide pictures of some of our patients with their pets to help tell the story of their importance of the Pet Peace of Mind Program to our community.  I had asked our social workers if they had any recommendations of a family with pets that would allow me to take pictures and needed our services.  I was quickly given a name of a patient and his wife. They lived on the bottom floor of their son's home.   The house was near Pine Mountain, Georgia on the side of

a steep hill in the woods.  They have a cat named Buffy.  By the way, 'Buffy is a boy', I was quickly told.  I took several pictures and visited with the family.  I told them all about the Pet Peace of Mind Program.  it turned out that Buffy needed to be neutered and was due for his yearly vaccinations.  I arranged for a volunteer to pick up Buffy a few days later.  Everything went well and the family was pleased Columbus Hospice could provide these services to them at no charge. 

Several months later, I received an urgent call from the family. Buffy had been attacked by another animal.  He had a gash on his side and was very lethargic.  The family was in a difficult situation financially, as the patient's son had recently lost his job. Even their home was for sale. Given their situation, they couldn't afford to take Buffy to the veterinarian not knowing what the final cost would be. Our patient was very distraught and feared Buffy would have to be euthanized.  Thanks to the Pet Peace of Mind Program we were able to take Buffy to the veterinarian and not only save his life, but give him the ongoing care he needed to get well.  Our patient had told us that Buffy was an important part of his life.  He had a sense of comfort watching  him lie in the chair next to him purring. The simple companionship of his cat made a difference in his quality of life.

As you can see from the picture, Buffy returned from his adventure and promptly settled in, right back where he belongs...in his loving home."

Imagine the guilt and grief this patient would have experienced if they had put their beloved cat to sleep without knowing there was help available through Pet Peace of Mind. What if Buffy had died from his injuries because they couldn't afford to take him to a veterinarian? The last thing a terminally ill person needs is more grief. Thanks to Terri and Pet Peace of Mind at Columbus Hospice, the patient can continue to enjoy his beloved cat.