We recently cared for a critically ill patient in the CRMH ICU. Due to the nature of the injuries, the patient was unable to speak, but in working with one of our nurses, we learned that the patient was unhoused and trying to tell the staff that the patient had a dog, that they left behind. The patient was trying to draw a map to the location of the dog. And when the patient needed to call 911, the patient left food and water for the dog inside a tent, told the dog to stay, and zipped it up. The dog had now been there for several days.

Amber, the Operations Manager on the unit,
heard about this and jumped into action. But right before treating the patient, the RN went to the patient’s bedside and assured him that she would go find the patient’s dog and hang onto the dog until the patient was able to care for her again. The patient began to tear up, grabbing the nurse's hand and nodding that they understood. The RN was willing to go find the dog and foster it for an unknown amount of time to help the patient. The RN realized she may need some help with this rescue due to the location of the tent. She reached out to Angels of Assisi for help. They immediately responded and stated they would reach out to Animal Control to retrieve the dog, and that they are not allowed to go into a situation like that.

Animal Control went out that same evening and found the dog. She was just where the patient had said. She was in the tent, safe and sound. Animal Control took the dog to Angels of Assisi, where the nurse called daily to check on her. When able, she gave the patient the good news that the dog was now safe. The patient was so happy. The patient said they had the dog since she was a baby, and she is now around 10. She is all the patient has. The patient shared stories of the dog and how she bows down to say her prayers each night.

The patient was eventually moved out of the ICU. The nurse went to the other unit daily to provide updates to the patient on the dog. She helped arrange for the patient to pick up the dog at discharge. On the day of discharge, the patient had a place to stay for a bit, but did not have a ride home, and had to take a cab. Which meant the patient would not be able to pick up the dog that day. The RN gave the patient the personal number of the director of Angels and her own personal number to call if the patient needed any help picking up the dog. Then the RN contacted Angels with the news that the patient did not have a ride home and the next day, they drove the dog out to where the patient had been discharged.

They took lots of pictures of the reunion and could see how happy they both were. The RN knew that the dog was all the patient had, was unhoused, and the dog was the patient’s family. She did not stop until the dog was safe and back in her owner’s arms. Such a happy ending.