Dr. Plecha works with an amazing, local non-profit that benefits children and animals. Read what she wrote about her experience with the organization, and find out how to support its mission.
I work with Pets for Patients, which is a non-profit that rescues pets from shelters and places them in forever homes with sick children and their families. Eligible families are referred to Pets for Patients by medical staff at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The staff selects patients they feel would benefit from the love and companionship of a pet.
After referrals, our organization matches rescue dogs and cats with patients based on individual needs, and we provide a support system before, during and after the placement of the pet. It’s an awesome win-win that benefits both the animal and the child. The child has a pet companion by his or her side, and the animal finds a forever home.
An additional program Pets for Patients is involved in is escorting sick children to Cincinnati Zoo for private, up close encounters with some of the animals there. Again, referrals of patients are made to us by the medical staff of Children’s Hospital. (Pictured above: That’s me with Moe, the sloth at the Cincinnati Zoo. We took an inpatient from Children’s Hospital for an up close and private visit with some of the animals.)
If you’d like more information on Pets for Patients, please visit our Facebook page. There you’ll find photos of our patients with their pets, as well as information on how to support our program.