COMMITTEE ON
ANIMALS AND THE LAW ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM TO ENSURE CARE FOR PETS OF
HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS
Encourages Other Hospitals Across
the State to Adopt Similar Programs
ALBANY—The New York State Bar Association’s
Committee on Animals and the Law announced today a new voluntary program
that ensures the pets of hospitalized patients will be given proper care
while the patient focuses on his or her health and well being. The program is being launched in
partnership with St. Vincent's Hospital and the Not Home Alone
Project.
Under this new program, forms
developed by St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan are now available for download at www.nysba.org/PatientPetCare. The forms help hospital program coordinators
determine whether a patient has pets and also provide the hospital with
legal authority to access residences and make arrangements to see that
pets are cared for while a patient is being treated.
If a patient cannot return home, there
are short-term and long-term options available. Patients are typically
responsible for the cost of their pet’s care, which may be
provided by volunteers or third-party commercial services. Hospitals may
wish to work with local shelters and rescue organizations in
implementing the service.
Committee member Rachel Hirschfeld,
in conjunction with St. Vincent’s Hospital Patient Pet Care
Coordinator, Kate Fischer, are encouraging hospitals across the state to
adopt similar programs, which will ensure that the pets of hospital
patients are not left unattended, do not end up on the street or sent to
a shelter. Individuals who may be interested in
working on this program for other hospitals should contact Rachel
Hirschfeld at rachel@petriarch.com, the
Not Home Alone Project at nothomealoneMA@aol.com, or Kate
Fischer at mfischer@svcmcny.org.
The following forms are reprinted with permission. Original documents
developed by St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, copyright 2005, 2007
Related Files
1. Apartment Access Form (Adobe PDF File)
2. Chain of custody and property value form (Adobe PDF File)
3. Key custody protocol form (Adobe PDF File)
4. Key return to patient form (Adobe PDF File)
5. Release - Adoption request only form (Adobe PDF File)
6. Release - Third party transfer heavy-duty form (Adobe PDF File)
7. Release - Third party transfer power of attorney form (Adobe PDF File)
8. Release - Transmittal letter boarding form (Adobe PDF File)
9. Release - Transmittal letter vet or service form (Adobe PDF File)
10. Release - Vet board assistance form (Adobe PDF File)
11. Release - Vet care specifics form (Adobe PDF File)
12. Request for services form (Adobe PDF File)
13. Surrender form - Organization-ASPCA-base form (Adobe PDF File)
14. Waiver -Main form - Joint organizations Hospital-Third party form (Adobe PDF File)
15. Waiver - Volunteer form (Adobe PDF File)
Print all forms at once (Adobe PDF File)
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