Practical Issues - Pet Care

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Most individuals consider their pets to be part of the family.  When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, especially an individual who lives alone and cares for their pet(s), a concern arises as to who will assume responsibility for the animals.

This can become a particularly difficult issue. Beloved pets are important to the well-being of cancer patients, providing comfort in a way which no other human can, so it’s important to try to keep the patient and the pet together as much as possible.

If your challenges with pet care involve a short-term hospital stay, check with relatives and neighbors first to determine whether they’re able to care for your animals.  If not, contact your vet to find out if he/she knows of any volunteers who may be able to assist you.  Though it’s not always a first choice, you may also board your pet at a reliable kennel for a short time.

If you need to enter a nursing home or other facility that doesn’t allow pets, further difficulties arise.  Your pet(s) may have to be relocated on a permanent basis.  This will no doubt be very difficult for you.  Again, first check to determine whether a close friend or relative can assume ownership of your pet.  If so, they may even be able to bring your pet to visit a few times a week, depending on the regulations of the facility in which you’re living. 

If no one close to you is able to take your pet, it’s probably best to contact your vet or the local humane society to find a new home for him/her.  You may also put an ad in the local newspaper. While this may be one of the hardest decisions prompted by your meso diagnosis, remember that your pet will thrive better with lots of love and a family who can serve his/her needs on a consistent basis, which you may no longer be able to do on your own.

You may also want to have a contingency plan in case of an emergency, such as a sudden hospitalization, so that your pet is not left alone in your home without food and adequate care.