Elderly companion animal owners face specific welfare challenges from physical limitations that affect their ability to provide exercise and veterinary care, creating welfare risks for animals that require targeted support systems.
Elderly owner companion animal welfare sits at the intersection of human and animal welfare systems. The animals provide measurable health and wellbeing benefits for elderly owners while creating welfare management challenges that physical limitations create. The most welfare-positive solutions maintain the human-animal bond while providing practical support for the care activities that owners can no longer perform independently. Volunteer walking programs, veterinary transport services, and in-home care assistance extend the period during which elderly owners can maintain adequate animal welfare independently. Supporting these programs serves both human wellbeing through continued animal companionship and animal welfare through maintained care.