A hospital allowed a pregnant woman to carry her pet dog into a maternity ward so that it could watch her delivering the baby.
Hospital managers justified the extraordinary action by saying that Barney, who is believed to be a Labrador, was a certified "therapy dog" and had a "calming presence", Daily Mail reported.
The unusual presence on the labour ward in Bristol city, however, was criticised amid claims that no special cleaning took place after the two-hour birth.
The dog is said to have been allowed entry to the maternity ward only after its owner submitted a form requesting the dog should attend the child birth at the hospital.
Hospital managers justified the extraordinary action by saying that Barney, who is believed to be a Labrador, was a certified "therapy dog" and had a "calming presence", Daily Mail reported.
The unusual presence on the labour ward in Bristol city, however, was criticised amid claims that no special cleaning took place after the two-hour birth.
The dog is said to have been allowed entry to the maternity ward only after its owner submitted a form requesting the dog should attend the child birth at the hospital.