Veterans at the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia have a furry little friend in Tom the tomcat at the hospital to help them feel a little better when their medical conditions start to worsen. There is no denying that pets possess a certain healing power by providing companionship when people are feeling down.
In 2012, the chief nurse at the VA Medical Center in Virginia and one of her associates read a book called “Making Rounds With Oscar,” detailing the healing power of pets. The book describes how a cat named Oscar and his owner would make rounds at various hospitals and comfort patients who suffered from dementia.
According to the book, Oscar seemed to sense when a patient was going to pass away and would show the patient extra attention. Based on the book, the chief nurse decided they needed something similar to Oscar so they brought in Tom the tomcat to help comfort veterans.
The chief nurse at the hospital states that Tom the tomcat can sense when veterans are having a difficult time, and he will lay on the bed and give patients extra love and attention. The nurse and her staff explain that Tom is there to bring a little happiness to an otherwise grim environment.
