Animal Welfare League Australia (AWLA) has welcomed the consumer focus of the Commonwealth’s new Aged Care Quality Standards and is urging the sector to embrace pet-friendly services that allow the elderly to remain with their own animals for as long as possible.
The 2017 AWLA Pets in Aged Care Study revealed that only 18% of Australia’s residential aged care facilities allow pets to reside with their owners and just 9% of in-home care providers say they offer pet-friendly services.
Australia’s pet ownership rate (63%) is the third-highest in the world, just behind the United States (65%) and New Zealand (64%), and the proportion of Australians aged over 65 is continuing to grow. Therefore, the aged care sector should respond to the increasing demand for services that keep owners and their pets together. Maintaining the human-animal bond has proven health benefits for the owner and their pet. It also reduces animal surrender rates to the rehoming, shelter and care services of AWLA’s six member organisations across the nation.’
The Pets in Aged Care Study also revealed that up to 10,000 animals may have been surrendered because of elderly-related reasons throughout Australia in 2016. Reasons included owner health, unsuitable pet accommodation at home, inability or unwillingness of family members to care for the pet, and a lack of financial means.
For more information, go to at www.awla.org.au
Back to AWL Eurobodalla! Although we have some delightful kittens ready and waiting for a home, this week we are hoping to rehome some of our elder cats that have been waiting for far too long. Can you help Trixie, Maggie and Cecelia. They are all beautiful girls.
Trixie is the eldest at just over 2 years of age and the others are just over a year old. We still have our special for Frank and Doug - $200 for the pair all vet checked, de-sexed, vaccinated, etc. Phone our Liaison Officer on 0410 016 612 for more details.
