Lawrence Knight is a senior citizen who lived with his wife and dog in the town of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The former miner was eventually diagnosed with dementia, and his wife took care of him. His pet, a Labrador Retriever named Millie, was also always by his side.
Unfortunately, Lawrence’s wife died, and he had to be admitted to a care home. And the worst news is, they didn’t allow animals on the property. Without family or friends to take Millie, she had to go to a shelter. This devastated the widower.
Separated
Because of his medical condition, Lawrence was deemed to be lacking the capacity to make decisions about the care he received. So he had no choice about the care home he was sent to. This was a major roadblock in being reunited with his dog.
To make matters worse, when the pandemic happened, he couldn’t go and visit Millie in the shelter. This made the widower’s condition worse. He would always ask for his dog, and not seeing the animal made him sad and lonely.
Legal help
Fortunately for Lawrence, a law firm heard about his predicament and decided to help him out. The firm’s lawyers filed a case, and it took two years of multiple pleadings and hearings before the court finally decided.
Lawrence was transferred to a pet-friendly center called Lakeside Care Home. Millie soon joined his dad there. The two had an amazing reunion, and the old man couldn’t keep his tears from flowing. The care home staff became emotional as well.
Lawrence became happier as the days passed. Having Millie around did wonders for his mood every day. Most of all, the other residents adored the dog as well. She became a permanent part of the home care family and brought happiness to residents and staff alike.
Source: Lakeside Care Home via Facebook