As the 504 Coordinator for SJ Hospital, I receive a lot of calls about service animals and to determine if a dog meets the requirements define for a service dog. While driving back from BSO one day the SJH AOD called me to discuss a man and his dog who had presented to the ED. The Patient stated that "Buddy" was a service dog and needed to stay with him. The ED allowed the dog while in the ED but it soon became apparent the patient would need to be admitted due to a BA 52 order and a need for a Psych evaluation. Now, what are we going to do with the dog? the patient would be going to 8 Central which could not allow the dog.
After reviewing with the AOD it was determined the dog is not a service dog under the rules of the ADA, I informed her the dog would need to be sent home with someone and to have the patient contact a friend or family to pick Buddy up. Now it gets complicated; the patient is homeless, living in a shelter and has no one to pick Buddy up. On top of that, the dog is unkempt and dirty. The AOD calls me back to tell me this and I again state he is not a service dog and cannot stay at SJH (sometimes I really hate being the rule enforcer).
The MD decided that if we rescinded the Baker act, then the dog could stay, so he does and I again state the dog needed to go. He is not appropriate for staying in the room. Now my heart is breaking as is the nursing office staff's upon hearing the story.
Karen Leavens, AOD, Tina Long, Director, and Beckie Lunseth, AOD, decide they will pay for the boarding of the dog if it can be arranged and the patient would agree. I arrive and they tell me the plan and I agree to help pay for the boarding as well.
Karen talks to the patient and tells him our plan; he is so happy and humbled that we would do that for him. Buddy is his only friend and they go everywhere together. Karen asked him if he had any shot records and he did, he carried them with him at all time, he took pride in the fact they were up to date even though he was homeless.
Karen arranged with her Vet to take the dog and board him, then we had to get him there. Our staffing coordinator, Veronica volunteered for the job and left work early to bring him to the Vet. Buddy arrived at the Vet, was bathed, given an exam and received a vaccine.
We shared Buddy's pictures and updated the patient each day during his stay. The patient was able to focus on his recovery without worrying about his companion.
The patient needed longer care than expected at an outside facility so another Manager, Mary Ellen Porter, volunteered to take the dog home and care for him until the patient's release a few days later.
Buddy was reunited with his owner and it was a very heartwarming reunion. Mary Ellen provided the patient and his dog an extensive goodie bag with supplies for both Buddy and his owner.