After three months in hospital, António received a visitor with four paws: his dog, Princesa. São João Hospital in Porto, Portugal, now lets selected patients welcome their own pets onto the wards, following individual assessments and veterinary checks.
Euronews watched the pair reunite on October 2. António described the visit as a lift during rehabilitation, and the hospital reported no related infections since the protocol began in July. The program offers companionship; its effect on medical recovery has not been established.