Woman Smuggles Dog Into Hospital for Sick Grandmother

When Shelby Hennick’s grandma was hospitalized for an allergic reaction, she decided to pull off this year’s best covert operation yet.

Shelby Hennick, 21, swaddled her grandmother’s dog and made her way through the hospital pretending to be a pregnant woman. Reaching the room without arousing suspicion, she surprised the lucky patient with her bundle of joy.

“I just happened to be passing my grandma’s house when she called, so of course I was gonna do it,” Hennick told BuzzFeed.

At first, Donna Hennick — Shelby’s grandmother — was so caught off guard that she momentarily mistook Patsy, the dog, as an actual baby. However, once she recognized her non-human visitor, her grandmother felt more at home.

Since pulling off her stunt, Hennick and pictures of her hysterical ‘baby bump’ have gone viral on social media. Moreover, she has inspired other dog owners to share their own stories of smuggling dogs into hospitals.

However, despite this heartwarming tale (no pun intended), health concerns have been raised by hospitals.

Dr. David Weber of the UNC Hospital’s Departments of Hospital Epidemiology suggests that sanitary conditions should hold importance. He advises people to contact a hospital’s patient relations office before attempting to bring in an animal.

Most hospitals, he states in an interview with Today, are “flexible and have ways of dealing with almost anything people want.”

Shelby Hennick nonetheless also states that she “would do it again.”

In addition, she said that she is willing to do anything for her family’s happiness.

After three days, Donna Hennick was sent back home. She presently enjoys the company of family, friends, and her two dogs. Luckily for Patsy, blanket swaddling is no longer necessary.