I am writing to thank the Lake County Animal Control for their recent support to patients at Redbud Community Hospital. When patients are admitted to the hospital in an emergency, they are often very concerned about their pets – especially when there are no friends or family to care for their pets while they are away.

For many, pets are like members of the family. Animal Control has stepped in to help. Recently, Animal Control picked up and cared for a dog that was left unattended inside a patient's home when he came to the emergency room and had to remain in the hospital. They took the dog to the Animal Control kennel in Lakeport, where it was fed, walked and slept in heated kennels.

They even offered to transport the dog back and forth from the kennel to the hospital, so that the patient could have a brief visits. When the patient left the hospital, Animal Control officers were available to help re-unite the dog with his owner and provided all the necessary dog-related transportation.

In a second recent instance, an emergency department patient was extremely worried about her cats when she was transferred to another hospital outside the county. Because of the emergency, several cats were left inside the house without food or water and she was unable to provide next of kin or other contact information. Animal Control worked with the police to gain entry to rescue the indoor cats, provided food and water for the outside cats and they even helped locate next of kin.

In both these instances and many others, Animal Control has gone out of their way to help our patients and their pets. We are grateful for their help and support. Their genuine concern for the people and animals within our community is heartwarming.

Jetta Meadows is a social worker with Redbud Community Hospital.

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