Some people buy pets to keep in large institutions and more often than not, these happen to be dogs. The problem is that the animals don't get acquainted to the inhabitants of these institutions since there is an inflow and outflow of large numbers of people. They mostly happen to be learning institutions like high schools and colleges. You find that the dog gets stressed and this shows in its subdued gait when walking along the corridors with the tail between its legs as if expecting a blow or a reprimand any moment. Some students don't help matters by making fun of the animal by frightening it usually in a pathetic bid to entertain their colleagues. In other instances, the animal becomes consumed by fear and stress until it lets go and seems to have adopted the policy of live and let live. I think pets in institutions should have their own quarters and their handlers should allow them to mix with the community so as to let them have a quality life since they only live once just like us.
This reminds me of the movie Max, about the dog who was used in the Middle East war. Max had a trainer who was killed in the war and that death was the fulcrum of the story. When Max was brought home to America, the dog seemed to be lost. Fortunately, the handler's brother had the passion to take care of Max in honor of his brother. Sans the drama, Max acclimatized and became comfortable with his handler's younger brother.
In an institution, I think it is all right to have dogs particularly for the benefit of children like in hospitals or schools. However, the dog should have a dedicated handler and if I have the authority, I would require that the dog live with the handler. That means the handler and the dog would come to work every day as if the dog is also an employee. If there are no fixed handler for the dog then it may be confused and would suffer an emotional distress.
I visited a nursing home once where there lived, I think, two dogs and a cat, or something like that. The animals were pretty much allowed to roam freely and would visit whomever they chose. The residents were delighted when an animal would pick them and spend a few hours or a day with that person. That same nursing home had a community fish tank in a sitting room where residents could go, look at the fish, talk to each other or watch a little TV. Another nursing home I visited a relative at, allowed residents to bring their own pets along, and you would see elderly people sitting in the corridors, leashes in hand and their faithful pooches by their sides. Sometimes you'd see a cat contentedly curled up on someone's lap. Both the owners and the pets looked happy, so I think that solution is best. Institutions should allow the person to bring along their own pet or pets as this helps both to feel better and less lonely. A veterinarian's office that I know of, has a pet cat who lives on the premises. He adores other cats yet hates dogs, so when a sick cat comes in to the office, he tries to comfort that kitty and will give him face licks and all sorts of adoration. Yet, when a sick dog comes in to the office, 'Henry' the cat will simply ignore him. So, I think that compatibility with other animals and other types of animals is something to be considered before allowing pets into institutions, as well. Pets who can't stand other pets wouldn't be a good fit in a place like that.
