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Portugal’s São João Hospital Allows Weekly Pet Visits for Patients
By Drooid · · How we work
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Story summary
- São João Hospital in Portugal allows pets to visit inpatients under a protocol launched on 9 July 2026.
- Doctors or nurses must request each visit.
- Dogs, cats and exotic animals may enter if accompanied by a clean, non-aggressive adult.
- Patients receive a half-hour pet visit once a week, prioritising terminal or long-stay cases.
- Since no infections have been reported, staff can stop any visit breaching protocol.