Nurses turn to pet therapy

[ixchel]

We all know pets are great for reducing the physical side effects of stress.

What furry creatures await you after a long and terrible shift?

This is my pup. She's 2. Border collie and lab. If you have an obsession with mopping (excited pee-er), digging things out of a dog's mouth, and just generally never having nice things again, she's the dog for you! I will give her this - when my shift swings, she sleeps when I sleep without any trouble.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Lola is part Boxer. She actually boxes!

My last dog was a German Shepard mix. Huge difference in their personalities. Lola is just a goof.

I told my husband as soon as our son is old enough we are getting a Boxer. I have yet to meet a Boxer I don't love.

[noelly10]

I told my husband as soon as our son is old enough we are getting a Boxer. I have yet to meet a Boxer I don't love.

The first time I saw and pet a boxer I swore I would have one one day. I can't handle two dogs at once, so a boxer is my next fur child.

They have such a squishy, adorable face!! I must have one.

[Farawyn]

The first time I saw and pet a boxer I swore I would have one one day. I can't handle two dogs at once, so a boxer is my next fur child.

They have such a squishy, adorable face!! I must have one.

I call it her thinking face, the little furrows on her brow! She is not a purebred, so she doesn't have docked ears. We got her from a shelter. She has a huge smile and Frito paws. Squeeeeee!!!

[Elle23]

This is how I found my cat this morning!

[Farawyn]

This is how I found my cat this morning!

Classic fat cat pose.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

Kubla Khan:

Tasha:

Puddy:

And in Memorium, my beautiful Sterling I had 14 years, who I lost in May to cancer:

[Farawyn]

Kubla Khan:

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Tasha:

[ATTACH]18896[/ATTACH]

Puddy:

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And in Memorium, my beautiful Sterling I had 14 years, who I lost in May to cancer:

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Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

RIP Sterling.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I love my dog and my cat.

But, they are indeed different:

[bunnysanford]

I love this thread!

Here's Grace, who came the whole way from England with my wife:

And Francis, who had to be put to sleep two weeks ago, just days after I passed my NCLEX (some of you might recall):

(Sticking her tongue out)

Oddly, just two days ago, this little guy came onto our porch while we were painting and wouldn't leave us alone. Neighbors said he'd been roaming around for weeks. We took him to the vet; he wasn't chipped, and there were no "lost cat" notices or anything. He got a clean bill of health, all his vaccines and tests, and an appointment to be neutered this week. I wasn't looking for a new friend so soon, but I couldn't be happier that Oscar has adopted us, and he looks pretty happy, too:

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I love all of these animals! Yes, my familiar long-haired white domestic soothes my frazzled nerves. She's short-haired at the moment because she's been shorn. Too hot to have long hair for a cat and she's such a shedder. But she is my Tenley and sleeping on my books as I write papers/journals/SOAP notes. She likes to help me study... Oh, I have one on my instagram...how to link that?

nuts.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I love this thread!

And Francis, who had to be put to sleep two weeks ago, just days after I passed my NCLEX (some of you might recall):

[ATTACH]18902[/ATTACH]

(Sticking her tongue out)

So sorry for your loss! We had to put our beautiful yellow lab down over a year ago, and I still miss her and cry about it sometimes. I'm laying in bed as I type with a beautiful black 12 year old cat whom I also love dearly. I sure hope we have her for several more years as I'm really not ready for another loss.

Enjoy your new kitty!

[bunnysanford]

So sorry for your loss! We had to put our beautiful yellow lab down over a year ago, and I still miss her and cry about it sometimes. I'm laying in bed as I type with a beautiful black 12 year old cat whom I also love dearly. I sure hope we have her for several more years as I'm really not ready for another loss.

Enjoy your new kitty!

Thanks! That furry little hole in the heart never really goes away, does it? I had a moment today where I reached behind me to her usual spot on the couch to pet her (as was our habit), and that hurt. Francis got to 15; I hope yours has several good years even beyond that.