Work is underway on a new centre that would allow sick children at a Dublin hospital to be visited by their pets.
The €100,000 facility at Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin [formerly Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin] is run by Cian's Kennels - a charity set up following the death of 15-year-old Cian Neary from a rare form of lymphoma in 2019.
He was able to visit his dog, Cooper, during his treatment.
Cian Neary and Cooper. Picture by: Cian's KennelsWith the support of many people, his parents managed to bring Cooper to Dublin and base him in kennels near the hospital.
"Cian visited Cooper most days, and we cannot overstate the positive impact this had for Cian", his parents Evelyn and Enda say.
"Cian remained in hospital and on treatment until the last week of his life - and having Cooper based near the hospital allowed him to enjoy many occasions and outings in Dublin knowing Cooper was safe nearby.
"For us, as a family, these outings and the time Cian spent with Cooper became the basis of lasting, precious memories for us when Cian sadly lost his battle for life.
"We experienced first-hand the joy Cooper brought Cian and us during the most difficult days.
"We have also experienced the impact of childhood illness and extended hospital stays have on the families involved."
Picture by: Cian's KennelsAnd they say this is a continuation of his journey.
"It was actually the day of Cian's funeral Evelyn says to me 'I'm going to do the same for the kids as what was done for Cian'.
"And we feel in many respects that we're just continuing the journey that Cian started and it's great to do that in his memory, and have a legacy for him for years to come".
The new facility will have a seating area for families and specially-designed kennels for pets on-site so patients can visit them.
The services are also set to include full veterinary checks and vaccinations, as well transport from home to and from the kennels.
It is due to be up and running by the end of next month.
Reporting by: Stephen Murphy
