Because Pets Are Family: Pet Peace of Mind® Brings Comfort to Hospice Patients

At Allied Services, we believe that healing and dignity go hand in hand. Beyond advanced technology and rehabilitation care, Team Allied Services supports the kind of compassionate programs that bring peace and comfort to our patients and their families. One such program is Pet Peace of Mind®, made possible through the generosity of our community.

Since becoming an official program partner in 2021, Allied Services Hospice & Palliative Care has helped ensure that hospice patients never have to say goodbye to their beloved pets before they’re ready. This national initiative allows patients to continue caring for their pets throughout their end-of-life journey without worrying about pet care costs or the future of their animal companions.

Thanks to the support of our community, volunteers trained through the Pet Peace of Mind® program are able to help with everything from walking dogs and feeding cats to veterinary care and transportation. They even assist in finding loving forever homes after a patient’s passing.

A Final Wish, Fulfilled

For one hospice patient, Diane* (*name changed for privacy), her two cats were more than pets - they were her family. Diane had received hospice care at home for several months. As her condition progressed, she was transferred to the Allied Services Hospice Center in Scranton for continuous care. Her final request was simple and deeply meaningful: she wanted to pass with her cats by her side.

“When Laura Marion, [Assistant Vice President of Hospice] called me and told me about Diane’s wish, I knew we had to make it happen,” said Laurie Fleming, Volunteer Services Coordinator. “I immediately thought of Denise Mercer, one of our amazing volunteers, and together with a caring neighbor, we made the arrangements.”

The cats were transported to the patients room at the center and lovingly settled in with everything they needed - food, water, and even a little ottoman to help them reach Diane’s bed. “One cat stayed by her side on the bed, just like at home,” said Denise. “I helped move her hand so she could feel the warmth. She wasn’t awake, but I believe she knew they were there.”

Thanks to the compassion of our team and volunteers - and the support of donors like you - Diane's final moments were filled with comfort and love.

Keeping Pets - and Families - Together

After Diane’s passing, her cats were brought back home, and arrangements were made to ensure they were adopted into a loving new household. No animal cared for through Pet Peace of Mind® ever enters a shelter system. Instead, Allied Services works with local rescues and foster networks to provide safe, permanent homes.

“This program isn’t just about pet care,” said Laura Marion. “It’s about meeting people where they are emotionally and spiritually and giving them the peace they deserve in their final days. That’s what compassionate care looks like - and that’s what Team Allied Services helps make possible.”

Your Impact Stays Right Here at Home

Pet Peace of Mind® is just one example of how your donations to Team Allied Services stay right here in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. The funds you raise and the awareness you generate directly benefit your neighbors - supporting patients, children, and families across our region.

Because of you, Allied Services can continue offering more than just treatment - we provide hope, comfort, and dignity at every stage of life.