Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Bonner.
Hi Carol, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As part of family-centered care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, attending to medical needs is hand in hand with psychosocial challenges. The dedicated staff had begun to notice that many times when a child and their family face an oncology diagnosis, there is a canine or feline member of the family who plays a central role in providing happiness and comfort. The team had two families in search of a pet: for one, the family dog had just passed away and their child was grieving the loss; for the other, the family simply couldn’t afford a pet in addition to treatment. The oncology team investigated therapy and service dogs for each of these patients, but the extensive costs, family training and long waiting lists made accomplishing this task in a timely way impossible. For the families, a service or therapy dog felt like an immense undertaking during a critical time in their child’s illness. After arriving at this conclusion, the team connected with Carol.
She assessed the patient and the family, matched an appropriate dog, arranged for any medical needs, secured food, toys, beds, etc. – took care of all needs. In the end, the patients and families expressed that they not only felt they received a gift but also knew that they had rescued a shelter dog. Within the community of a family, hospital, and Carol, a wonderful collaboration began, and Pets for Patients began.
One pet led to another, and in 2016, Pets for Patients officially became a nonprofit organization.
About Carol:
Carol has loved animals all her life. As a 14-year-old, she showed her beloved Great Dane at the Westminster Dog Show in Madison Square Gardens in NYC. In 2016, retired and was ans now a empty nester she was volunteering at Cincinnati Children’s and many rescue and shelter organizations in the greater Cincinnati area when she received a call from the medical team at Cincinnati Children’s with the request to help them find a dog for a patient being treated at home for a brain tumor.
In 2016, she with support from her husband Paul started Pets for Patients.
When a child is being treated at home with a serious illness, the child and the family often become isolated. The patient may not be able to go outside and play or go to school. Research has shown that animals can be a real comfort. The simple wagging of a tail, purring of a cat, or sloppy wet kiss from a dog can create a laugh and a smile that may not have been seen or felt for a while.
Pets for Patients rescues shelter dogs and carefully vets the pet for health, temperament and helps to transition the pet from shelter life to their new forever home life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Finding volunteers, maintaining the child and families privacy while fundraising.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
hFounder of Pets for Patients 501(c)3
www.petsforpatients.org
and Founder of Creature Connection at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Known for connecting animals with children.
I am most proud of my 43 years of marriage to Paul Bonner, my children Dr. Paul Bonner and Margaret Bonner, and my three grandchildren, Anderson, Owen and Norah.
I am also proud to be associated with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the Cincinnati Zoo and their hard-working, loving staff, the shelters in the greater Cincinnati area, and the incredible families facing chronic childhood illness. Most importantly, the brave, beautiful children and their sweet shelter pets.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Getting my first dog.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.petsforpatients.org
