To support patients in sometimes difficult treatment and to cope with the disease, the radiotherapy center installed at CMC regularly welcomes dogs. To the delight of all.
As if it were obvious. “We talked to the doctor. Ten minutes of illness and fifty minutes of my life, dogs. And she said to me, ‘Next week, bring your dog’. “It’s hard to make it easier. “Anything that can help, anything that can have a beneficial effect, you have to take it. Especially in our specialty,” explains doctor Madeleine Pasquié, associated with doctor Michel Kareh for this radiotherapy center installed in the premises of the CMC.
This is the first in our service, but we have not met with any reluctance. Neither among the staff nor among the patients. Even a lady who is a bit afraid of animals came to pet the dog
Cédric Collin, delegate for the Handi’chiens association in Cantal, explains: “We are coming with three dogs. Tiki, an 18-month-old golden retriever, has completed his training and is an ambassador for Handi’chiens. Ukia, a 12-month-old golden retriever, is in training. Today we brought the youngest, Ugan, an 11-month-old labrador in training. “The animal is clever, curious and obedient.
Host families
During the interview, several employees came to pet the animal and greet it. “You see, everyone is happy to see it, to be able to touch it,” stresses Madeleine Pasquié. “Dog training can be adapted to each medical service, depending on its needs,” insists Isabelle Laporte, a patient who has been at this center for several weeks.
Raise awareness of disability
“It is important for the patients. But we need foster families for the dogs, explains Cédric Collin. They arrive after two months and stay with families until the end of their training, around 18 months. »
The association, which has existed since 1989, aims to train dogs and make them available free of charge to people with disabilities. The training of each animal costs an average of €18,000.
Bruno-Serge Leroy
