RUSHVILLE, ILL. -- We've all heard about therapy or nursing home dogs, but a retirement center in Rushville, Illinois is taking that idea to the next level. The Snyder's Vaughn Haven allows residents to have pets in their rooms with them everyday of the year.

Dorcus Herche has a lot to smile about these days as she spends time with her dog, Kristi, at Snyder's Vaughn Haven. Herche moved into the facility last September without her dog who is 15 and a half years old. But recently the home made a decision to begin allowing residents of the home to have their pets move in with them on a permanent basis.

"They stay with their owners during the day and our entire staff helps take the pets in and out during the day. They stay in the kennel in the evening. So they live here. They become part of the family here at SVH. It is much different then just a therapy dog program, when they come in for a couple of hours from an outside group," said Gregg Snyder.

The group even built a climate controlled kennel adjacent to the home to house the dogs at night. Snyder says all of the animals go through a screening process before they're allowed to move in, and he says every dog must have up-to-date shots.

"She usually comes every morning around 9:30 or 10:00, and she is here for the rest of the day until about seven in the evening usually," said Herche.

The residents are responsible for the costs of food and flea/tick and heartworm medication, but the home doesn't charge a monthly boarding fee.

Snyder says he has spoken with other local animal shelters and humane societies in the area to find that SVH is the only facility offering this type of arrangement.