Newfoundland dog in hospital - whatever next?

@ThinWomansBrain no, not 'all' are and it does not report that all are. Some hospitals are at times.

that's a very empty looking hospital.
I keep hearing on the news that they are all stuffed to the rafters with beds on every corridor.

Would also cheer my day to see a friendly dog if I was stuck in hospital.

I wonder why @Globules didn't challenge the human on the other end of that lead if it's such an big issue... or did you generate an AI image to post on the Internet?

Whatever next?

Personally I’m hoping for more Newfoundland dogs in hospitals.

I think it's great you have a therapy dog. I looked into doing the training with my current dog as he loves people and it's very rigorous. I saw the joy that a therapy dog brought my grandparents and others in their care home.

Gorgeous! Can we have another picture? I think it might be a lynx or a puma, so errr I just need to check. Thanks.

I would love to see this doggy if I was in the hospital. Would brighten my day

i hope he/she brought some happiness into someones day he would mine!

I HAVE however seen a fuck ton of twats off their face on whatever vile substance that is doing the rounds, eijits creating dirty protests in the loo, abusive patients and families and any number of incredibly disgusting things. I'd take the dog any day.

Oh come on, it's hardly a regular occurrence in a hospital! I've worked in them for years and never seen a dog, unfortunately.

I wonder if those who think that hospital’s hygiene control is so poor that the presence of PAT dogs must be banned (because of the possible presence of the extremely allergic) also think everyone should be wearing masks because of the risk that those out and about pose to CEV patients (eg everyone with cancer) of bringing in airborne diseases

If your first thought was ‘don’t be so silly, they’re more likely to interact with infectious people outside’ then ditto for dogs.

Even though requiring masking in healthcare settings would probably be good for everyone with the amount of winter bugs going round at the moment

I think everybody should have right to the therapy animal of their choice on their deathbed. It would make for a very special hospital. Clare Balding could have a racehorse bedded down next to her. David Attenborough could have some ring-tailed lemurs eating his grapes.

I am not sure how we could help that South-African bloke who made the My Octopus Teacher film though.

It'd set me off sneezing & itching. Dog dander is a common allergen & I don't think it's right having unnecessary allergens in a hospital. The last thing sick or injured people need is an allergic reaction on top.

I know, can I bring a pet tarantula in to their presence. It is cleaner at least

@Globules funnily enough, I saw an alsation in tesco the other day!! wtf! it wasnt a guide dog and was with an elderly couple. just walking past the bread.

PAT dog. Pets As Therapy. Yes, they are allowed in certain areas of hospitals. It has been proven to work.

They used to go to the residential home that my Dad was in (he had Alzheimers). The residents love them. Newfoundlands are great for this because of their wonderful, gentle temperament.

The rest of the world doesn't hate animals as much as the threads on mumsnet would have us believe.

Why be sad? The person found something they love.

Just because you don’t think it important does not mean it’s not important to someone else.

Not sure why having a beloved canine friend means someone doesn't also have human friends.

I'd be sad that the person had no human friends.

I doubt it. Why would surgery be performed on someone who was about to die anyway?

@Auldlang actually, you don’t get to deny other patients beneficial therapies based on your own fears. That’s how it works.

FFS, just use common sense OP!
That is a very expensive dog to get and keep.
Most likely a therapy dog.
You will find owners of very large dogs don't tend to bring them with them to every shop, coffee shop or department store. For very obvious reasons.
100% this was not some wanker taking their pet dog for a wander to keep company. It would 99% be a working dog. Or visiting a dying owner.
And for further reassurance OP, it was not a dog used for detecting explosives.

@Martha70 are your cats trained PAT animals? Because that is the difference here. Our hospital allows own pets in for end of life patients, but beyond that only registered therapy animals. Dogs (and ponies) who perform therapy are highly trained, and insured. They have to have perfect recall, never jump up unless ordered to etc. If your cats do that you may want to think about them getting licensed.

Name change as outing. But I work in that hospital as I recognise the layout and the dog! She is definitely a therapy dog. Her presence has been fully vetted by the infection control team and there are some areas of the hospital that she is not allowed in. But she brings a lot of joy to our patients some of who are going through the worst time in their lives and are in hospital for months desperately missing their own pets.

So please don't try to make an issue when there is not an issue!

By that reasoning, all phobias are ridiculous.

A phobia of dogs isn't that strange...dogs can kill people. Unusual and unlikely yes, but it's not unheard of.

I wouldn't say I had a phobia of dogs but I'm not entirely comfortable around them. I find them unpredictable and I have no idea what they'll do next or how I should respond to them.