The dogs of sick children in Crumlin Children's Hospital will now be allowed to stay with them thanks to a unique charity initiative.
'Cian's Kennels' was set up by Evelyn and Enda Neary, parents of Cian Neary who sadly passed away in September 2019 after being diagnosed with Hepatosplenic T-cell Lymphoma a year earlier.
Evelyn said that her son's "greatest love" was animals and explained that she and her husband began the charity to bring dogs closer to sick children.
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She said: "(Cian's) dog Cooper not only had a hugely positive impact on his stay while in the hospital, but also acted as the catalyst for what is now a fantastic addition here at CHI at Crumlin.
"As a family, we pledged to honour Cian’s memory by bringing dogs closer to sick children, and with the wonderful assistance of CHI staff, our Directors, friends and many sponsors, the pledge we made is finally a reality.”
The charity was founded in March 2020 and have been working since then to fundraise and attract sponsors to support the intiative.
Construction on the kennels in Crumlin began in January 2022 and took four months to complete.
Eilish Hardiman, Chief Executive Children’s Health Ireland, said that the service will put a "priceless" smile on children's faces.
She said: “Holistic care for children and young people is vitally important and means a child’s experience is more than their clinical care in CHI.
"We are lucky to be able to offer this service to patients because of Cian’s Kennels and their supporters.
"Children are resilient, but some of our patients can be with us a long time and being able to unite pets with these children will mean the world to them and their families.
"To see a smile on a child’s face is priceless, and that’s what this service brings to our patients.”
The kennels are partnered with the nearby DSPCA. Patients and families will be able book their dogs into the kennels via an online booking system, with support from their clinical team, in the coming weeks.
To find out more about how to avail of Cian's Kennels for your dog, click here.
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