Rehoming the Hopeless: A Cat Named Bruiser

Bruiser

When we talk to potential hospice partners about becoming part of our Pet Peace of Mind network, there are always questions about re-homing patients' pets. In our experience, most hospice patients have already decided who will care for their pet when they are admitted to hospice, but there are some instances when a pet will become homeless when a patient dies. You can imagine how comforting it is to someone terminally ill to know that their pet will be loved by someone after they are gone. There are challenges, though, that occasionally arise when a hospice is involved in pet placement. This month's story comes from our hospice partner in Arkansas, Hospice of the Ozarks, about a cat named Bruiser. Volunteer Coordinator Kathy Weaver tells the story:
"Generally, I am a positive person, but there are times that it is hard to be. I received a referral for a placement for a cat that I didn't think I had any chance of placing at all. The cat, Bruiser, was twelve years old, had never been around dogs or children, didn't like people, was known to bite and had its front claws removed for safety. The cat's owner, a home hospice patient, was a sweet 95 year old lady who loved him very much. After talking to her about him, I realized that Bruiser had a history of abuse and that he was only aggressive when cornered. He didn't come out while I was there visiting, but the patient shared some photos with me. I took down all the information I needed and assured her that I would do my best to find a home for her cat. A few days later, I received a volunteer request for the same patient. She wanted to have her hair done, so I contacted one of our beautician volunteers to fulfill the request. Later that day, the beautician came by my office and asked about Bruiser. It seems she and Bruiser had bonded. He came out of hiding while she worked with the patient's hair and seemed to become enamored with her. I made a call to the patient to confirm and we talked about Bruiser's future. The patient was thrilled to know that this woman would become Bruiser's new owner. The patient died three weeks later and Bruiser made a smooth transition to his new home."
It's true that not all pets find homes this easily, but our PPOM Coordinators do an amazing job with pet placement. Thank you to all the wonderful people who have taken a patient's pet into their home. For some patients, there is no better gift you can give them than the peace of mind they have from knowing their pet has a forever home.