The Baton Rouge law firm of Taylor Porter assisted two Baton Rouge organizations, Companion Animal Alliance and Mary Bird Perkins - Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, in launching a collaborative partnership, Fostering Hope, matching survivors with foster pets available for adoption. The program was created to provide comfort and companionship to cancer survivors while on their healing journey into survivorship. Through the program, patients who may not be in a position to make a long-term commitment regarding pet ownership have the opportunity to experience the healing benefits of pet companionship on a temporary basis.

“This is a first of its kind partnership between an animal shelter organization and a cancer care organization to provide patients embarking on a difficult journey with the chance to experience pet companionship with an animal looking for a home,” said Taylor Porter attorney Lauren Rivera, who worked with Taylor Porter Managing Partner Skip Philips on the agreements. “We were very excited to bring two well-known local organizations together and to play a role in something that will positively impact many patients at the Cancer Center. We are comforted in knowing that the Fostering Hope participants can experience pet companionship while on their journey to healing.”

Rivera and Philips drafted documents to fully develop the partnership. Under the agreements, the patient does not become the legal owner of the animal provided by the CAA, but serves as the temporary caregiver, and the animal remains the sole property of and receives routine medical care from the CAA. A questionnaire is also completed to ensure the placement is mutually beneficial for both the patient as well as the animal.

“What this partnership developed is truly groundbreaking, and I think it will likely be used by other organizations in the future as the framework for similar programs across the nation,” said Francinne Lawrence, PhD, director of survivorship at the Cancer Center and founder of Fostering Hope.

In an interview with the Baton Rouge Business Report, Lawrence said she was first inspired to start Fostering Hope after watching the effects of a similar program offered by the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. That program allows trained therapy dogs to visit with local cancer patients, but only for limited amounts of time. “Seeing how the patients light up, I asked myself how we could elongate that, so patients could experience this comfort at home when they’re not feeling well,” she says.

In an interview with 225 Magazine, Lawrence added that thanks to community donors, participants receive food, toys, a kennel and leashes free of charge. Vet costs are also provided.

The program has its first participant – Baton Rouge resident and cancer patient Barbara Keller adopted Hope, a schnauzer who came to the shelter matted, shaking and scared, and spent several weeks in her care before being adopted permanently. “When you have cancer, everybody tries to fix you,” Keller says. “I’m an outgoing person, but I found myself shutting down, bombarded with so many thoughts. There are so many people surrounding you who want to fix it, and you’re trying to be tough, and you tell them, ‘I’m good, I’m good.’ With dogs, you don’t have to tell them. You don’t have to talk.”

About Our Lady of the Lake Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center:  As a regional destination for cancer care, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center offers the most advanced technology and services provided by a dedicated team of nationally-recognized oncology experts. The Cancer Center provides best-practice, comprehensive care at every stage of the cancer journey, including disease site-specific multidisciplinary care teams, a robust clinical research program and extensive supportive care services. As a nonprofit organization, donor generosity is essential to sustaining the mission of improving survivorship and lessening the burden of cancer for so many throughout Southeast Louisiana and beyond. For more information on the Cancer Center, and how you can become involved, please visit mbpolol.org. 

About Companion Animal Alliance: At the direction of the Baton Rouge Metro Council, Companion Animal Alliance assumed the management of the Animal Control shelter on August 1, 2011. Since then, CAA has been focused on improving the lives of shelter animals, finding good homes for as many of them as possible, and upgrading shelter operations. 

About Taylor Porter: Founded in 1912 in Baton Rouge, Taylor Porter is “Louisiana’s Law Firm®” and one of the oldest, largest and most respected law firms in Louisiana, with a diverse range of local, regional, national and international clients in the most complex transactions and litigation across a variety of industries. As a full-service, general law practice with more than 70 attorneys, Taylor Porter’s capabilities cover the complete spectrum of civil law, including state and federal trial and appellate practice.