The Role of Companion Animals in the Transition of Care: A Case Report

Numerous individuals experiencing homelessness have a pet. When a homeless person is hospitalized for an emergency medical need, discharge planners are sometimes faced with tough options and a lack of resources for safe discharges from the hospital. We detail the case of a 64-year-old female patient who was admitted due to a witnessed syncopal event. The patient was admitted with her companion dog, which remained at the bedside through her hospitalization. The workup for her syncopal event was negative (CT brain, carotid US, ECG, troponins, orthostatic). Her discharge process was complicated by her need for a shelter placement that would accommodate her and her pet dog. The patient was discharged without finding a shelter that could accept her dog, which prevented her from receiving home health physical therapy. This case illustrates how pet ownership can create additional barriers to the transition of care for homeless individuals, limiting access to necessary follow-up services and impacting overall recovery outcomes. Thus, we would like to highlight this barrier that exists in this vulnerable population.