A few years ago, the nursing home decided an animal would help give it a more domestic and less medical feel for visitors and patients alike. Oscar belonged to a nurse; it must have seemed a good fit. Soon after, the staff noticed the usually aloof feline would occasionally spend time with a patient. That patient would then die with Oscar at his/her side. The staff recorded the events happening over a five-year period and the times Oscar had chosen a dying patient to visit. One time, the staff thought a patient was dying and they brought Oscar into the room so the patient would not be alone. Oscar would not stay and the patient did not die.
Due to the repeat occurrences and his level of accuracy, the staff began to take notice when Oscar lingered. The patients were usually far too ill to realize Oscar was with them; however, the staff was convinced enough to call the relatives to let them know their loved ones might be close to death. Relatives were happy to have the extra time and last visit with their dying loved ones. Those who could not make the final visit took comfort knowing their loved ones had not died alone.
While the science behind Oscar’s extra sense and the ability for animals, in general, to smell illness and/or death cannot be fully explained or substantiated, believers can take comfort in knowing their loved ones may be helped or life may be prolonged by the presence of an animal.