Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville opened a pet park on its campus this summer, allowing patients to visit with their pets while they are hospitalized, according to a Gainesville Times report.
The Christian-David Family Pet Park takes up 3,200 square feet of the hospital's campus, located about 55 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The handicap-accessible park features a five-foot-high fence, fresh water station, seating and shade. One at a time, patients can visit with their pets and family members in the park, and the schedule is coordinated through NGMC's guest services.
"We wanted to create a place that's not only dedicated for these visits, but one that also allows patients to get outside and gives clinicians an outdoor option for conducting pet therapy," said Daphne David, who donated money to The Medical Center Foundation for the park's creation.
Roxie Holt was one of the first patients to use the park recently, visiting with her Labrador retriever Tux. "It means the world to me to see my dog, my buddy," she told the Gainesville Times.