By WINKIE LEE
The Goldsboro News-Argus

October 31, 2001 Source: AP - AP Wire Service

GOLDSBORO, N.C. (AP) _ He may be dressed as a little devil, but Pluto is an angel in many people's eyes.

The one-year-old beagle had a rough start in life: When he was adopted at the Wayne County Animal Shelter about a year ago, he had parvo, kennel cough and worms. But his life has turned around. He now has good health, plenty of love and a mission: to bring joy to residents, family members and staff at the Kitty Askins Hospice Center.

Kitty Askins provides inpatient care to people who have terminal illnesses and have been diagnosed as having six months or less to live.

A team of caregivers works with the patients and tries to provide a homelike atmosphere. Patients' families and pets are welcome at the facility. Pluto visits about once a week with his owner, Michelle Connor of Goldsboro, a hospice nurse's aide and Wayne Community College nursing student.

Usually, Pluto just looks like his dapper self but, since this is the holiday season, he has taken to wearing a red cape and horns sent by Connor's sister, who lives in Indiana. Recently, a patient who likes the dog saw the costume. ``It suits him, doesn't it?'' he jokingly asked Connor.

Connor adopted Pluto after listening to patients at Kitty Askins talk about beloved pets they could no longer see, either because family members could not bring them or seldom came themselves. 'Why not bring a pet selected for hospice?' she thought. She told her mother, Cindy Connor, what she wanted to do and her mother went to the animal shelter to see what was available.

Pluto appealed to her, so she told her daughter there was an animal she should see. But she didn't tell her which one. Connor went to the shelter and immediately focused on Pluto. ``He looked pathetic,'' she said. ``He was sitting at the front of the kennel ... looking up at me.'' The other dogs were paying no attention. She asked if she could bring him out of his cage and, when she did, he sat calmly. Connor decided he was the dog for the job.

Before he could help others, Pluto needed help. He was taken to a veterinarian. His care cost about $1,000 and was paid for by Connor with some assistance from her mother. Pluto quickly became well and was ready to begin his work as hospice pet.

When he was taken to Kitty Askins, response was good. Connor remembers one of the first patients the dog met. The man was sitting in a chair. ``He couldn't move a lot,'' Connor said. ``He put his hand out and Pluto put his head on it. The man got the biggest smile on his face. I had seen him a couple of times before, and he had never smiled that big.''

Another patient enjoyed the dog so much that every time he saw Connor at work, he'd say, ``Where's Pluto? I want to see Pluto.'' Connor would go home after her shift had ended and bring the dog back for a visit.

She has found that it is not just the patients who respond to Pluto. The families like him, too. ``Some of the families who have loved ones in the Acute Care section will hear the tags on Pluto's collar and open the doors to their loved one's room so they can see him. Sometimes the family will ask if I will take Pluto in,'' Connor said. She remembers a patient who was semi-responsive until Pluto entered the room. ``I took him in and she smiled. A few minutes later, she was unresponsive again.''

Another patient's family asked Connor to take Pluto to see their loved one. ``She had animals at home and the family couldn't bring them,'' Connor said. The patient smiled and began telling Connor about her pets.

After the death of their loved one, still another family told Connor that the last thing they remembered about their father was him smiling when Pluto visited.

``Some patients don't like dogs, and he is not forced on them,'' Connor says. If a patient prefers Pluto not be brought in, Connor will stand by the door and speak with the person for a while.

There has been a time when Pluto was uncomfortable with a visit. He went into the room of a sick 10-year-old. ``Pluto loves children,'' Connor said, ``but was upset being around one who was so ill.''

Connor's mother says she believes Pluto associates illness with older people and had trouble accepting it in a child.

Before Pluto visits, Connor makes sure he is clean and that his nails are trimmed. He also stays up-to-date on his shots. Then he heads for hospice, to visit with his friends and remind them of happy times.

AP-ES-10-31-01 0123EST

For more information about Hospice programs of 3HC write to 3HC Hospice, attention: