[handyrn]

The nursing home where I work loves animals! Many of our employees have dogs and we bring them to work with us all the time. The Dept of Health is ok with this as long as they are all current on their shots and there is record of that on file. Our residents love it! There are a couple of residents in particular that are on the call lights all the time for one reason or another, but bring in a dog to sit in their lap for them to pet and they are quiet for HOURS! Another resident used to have insomnia and ring her call light all night long. As long as I brought in my small dog and put in in bed with her she would sleep all night. It also helps to calm some of our alzheimer's/dementia patients. There are days in our facility when we have 3 or 4 dogs running around as you never know who will bring their dog in!

[BayouLPN]

My first job, and still prn, has a small dog in residence. A min-pin that showed up one day several years ago, hurt and sick. Some of the residents took a shine to him. They have him listed as a "therapy dog" with the state but he is really just the facility pet. He seems to know when a resident is dying. You will find in that room on a viligent watch. He, also, does not really like male visitors. Our facility does not have a large number of male residents. He will bark his head off at a man who comes in...but...he does not bark at a new male resident. Don't ask me how he knows the difference. He just does. Like one poster stated...he is very good with the dementia/alzheimer patients. He will sit in their lap for hours. Everybody loves him. We, also, encourge pets to visit. Especially if the new resident's pet is now living with a family member. As an avid pet lover, I think they make wonderful therapy companions and have seen first hand the difference they make in my residents quality of life.