Create a Society That's Kind to Elders and Their Pets

In today's society, many elders live with pets. The animals provide a sense of healing comfort and vitality to senior households and individuals living alone. Some research has also shown that taking care of a pet reduces the risk of the owner requiring nursing care.

However, there are many cases in which people suddenly become unable to care for their pets due to illness or unexpected injuries. A frequent lament is, "I want to keep a pet, but am unable to do so."

Respect for Elders Day offered a perfect opportunity to consider the support and mechanisms needed to help older people live long, healthy lives with their pets. Celebrated on Monday, September 15, it offered an opportunity for Japanese society as a whole to consider this issue.

According to a survey conducted by the Japan Pet Food Association (JPFA) in 2024, roughly 6.8 million dogs were kept as pets nationwide. And approximately 9 million cats were household pets as well. The proportion of households with one or the other stood at around 9% of Japan's total population. That number would swell if rabbits, fish, and other types of animals were included.

*Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter Princess Aiko with their dog Yuri on the grounds of the Nasu Imperial Villa in August 2019.*

What the Research Shows

Individuals in their 60s who have pets or who live in households with parents or grandparents acknowledge the benefits of pets for seniors. Asked what these benefits are, the top answers for both dogs and cats were: "The elder talks more with other family members" and "His/her expression looks brighter."

There is no doubt that, for animal lovers, living with a pet improves the quality of their daily lives.

Research results from the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology have also become a hot topic. People who own a dog have a 40% lower risk of developing dementia than those who do not own one. However, there is no notable change in risk for cat owners. The improved condition of dog owners is attributed to factors such as the exercise gained from walking a dog and social interaction with people along the way.

Nevertheless, there are also unique problems for elders with pets. Will the owner live out the average lifespan of a dog or cat, which is 10 to 20 years?

Parakeets and parrots are popular because they are easy to keep and allow for enjoyable communication. But it is important to bear in mind that birds in particular tend to live long lives.

The Act on Welfare and Management of Animals requires pets to be cared for appropriately throughout their lives. Of course, once you start keeping a pet, you want to take care of it until the end. But keeping a pet also comes with costs.

Challenges of Aging with Pets

A number of social problems have also emerged. These include abuse of pets through neglect or abandonment, with many abandoned dogs becoming wild. Animal hoarding issues also sometimes arise.

To smooth transitions in an emergency, pet owners should prepare by asking their families or relatives for help. If this is not practical, owners can also make arrangements to entrust their pets to a responsible facility or organization. Actually, in recent years, the number of companies and organizations offering pet care support services for seniors has been increasing.

We should aim to create a society that is kind to both people and animals. That means increasing measures to support the lives of elders while allowing them to enjoy the benefits of living with pets.