For many people in hospice, pets offer unconditional love, acceptance, comfort, and companionship when it’s needed most—the times when friends and family aren’t seen as frequently or when words are too hard to say.
Pet Peace of Mind® (PPOM) is a national program. Mercyhealth Hospice’s PPOM program provides helping hands and financial assistance so that caring Mercyhealth at Home volunteers can help terminally ill patients with pet care needs. With this loving support, patients are able to complete their end-of-life journeys without worrying about their pet’s current and future needs.
Our services
PPOM provides volunteer pet care services for all Mercyhealth Hospice patients who are unable to care for their pets while on hospice. Services include:
- Assistance with pet food and pet litter
- Financial assistance for routine veterinary care and grooming
- Transporting the pet to veterinary and grooming appointments
- Temporary pet sitting and boarding
- Foster care
- Adoption placement
Our partners in pet care
Hospice patients are encouraged to use their usual pet care service providers. Otherwise, Mercyhealth Hospice can choose a provider in the patient’s community. We partner with dozens of veterinarians and animal care professionals throughout our service area.
How you can help
Mercyhealth Hospice relies on and welcomes compassionate, pet-loving volunteers to provide PPOM services. All volunteers receive training and support. We invite you to join us.
We also welcome monetary donations to go toward care of pets requiring routine immunizations, grooming, chronic disease care, and occasional emergency issues that may arise, plus costs associated with fostering until permanent families are found.
For more information about the Mercyhealth Hospice Pet Peace of Mind program, please call (608) 754-2201 in Janesville or (815) 971-3550 in Rockford.