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The Watertown Daily Times is reporting:
Podiatrist's poodle sits with patients, visits nursing homes
Quote:
"Everybody is sort of worried about going to the doctor," said Mrs. Smith, Philadelphia. "But Jaden has made a big difference for me."
Jaden is the "therapy dog" at the New Century Podiatry office at 18564 Route 11 run by Dr. James P. Pelletier. The 6-year-old miniature poodle has been working at the office for about two years.
A sign on the door to the exam rooms advises patients: "A spoiled rotten poodle works here." Behind the door is where Jaden follows Dr. Pelletier from patient to patient.
When a visitor took a seat in the office recently, Jaden, after an invitation from the doctor, leaped onto the visitor's lap. But Jaden dashed away when he heard the back door opening. His ears are always tuned to such back-door visitors like the UPS delivery man, who often delivers a dog biscuit.
Dr. Pelletier is fine with such treats. He said Jaden has proven invaluable in putting patients at ease.
"It allows me to see patients who are upset or frightened," he said. "He has a calming effect."
"I've never seen a dog more dedicated to his master," said Janice A. Crabb, a patient from Black River. "He's so well-behaved. He comes to the door to greet me and then goes to find Dr. Pelletier."
When Dr. Pelletier works on patients' feet, Jaden takes his lap position and patiently waits for the procedure to conclude as patients pet him. Sometimes the dog is lulled to sleep.
Jaden seems to be a natural for the therapy dog profession, even though he arrived in the Pelletier household by accident....
What annoys me is Nursing home staff and management who cringe at the odd toenail or callus on the ground, yet they let a flea bitten cat sit on the dining tables ......Yuk.
Maybe this thread is not so quirky! I have been told I could apply for a hearing dog but have held back as it would have to go to work with me but have held back due to infection control. But I read an article read an article by Hearing Dogs for the Deaf of a nurse taking their dog into the practice, the dog sat quietly in the corner while the nurse was treating patients.
I personally don't have a problem with this as I have never caught anything off a dog or a cat but plenty of infections from humans! (However, I am sure the HPC would have something to say about introducing animals into a podiatry surgery!)
The exception would be during invasive procedures where full aseptic precautions are required.
The physio at a local NHS clinic, who is blind, takes his guide dog to work with him. It sleeps on a large bean bag at the corner of the clinic and snores gently.
When I see signs that say "no dogs except guide dogs" I chuckle. Are guide-dogs taught to wipe their paws, or are considered less of an infection risk than other canines?
Dido
LOL. I had to read this a couple of times to figure out if the dog was sitting on the patient's lap or the podiatrists. What if the patient's had a fear of dogs? I guess they'd go somewhere else. I would if i were a patient. i dont like dog hair on my clothes at the best of times, let alone after a trip to see a health professional.
Dido good idea is to get the HPC's and SOCAP's opinion as a starting block. I think there is a lot to consider before I go up this road but life is difficult, frustrating and tiring when you don't hear a knock at the door, doorbell or the phone ring, certain sounds are more difficult than others.
I do have two guide-dogs that regularly come into the surgery and I think it would be discrimination to refuse them access and hearing dogs do come under the same umbrella.
Podiatrist's dog sits with patients
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