News Discussion

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.

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.

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.

1. 1. nursing care　介護
   My aunt is receiving excellent nursing care at a place near here.
2. 2. lifespan　寿命
   The lifespan of some parrots is about forty years.
3. 3. emerge　現れる、浮上する
   New details are still emerging about the traffic accident on Highway 5.
4. 4. abandoned　見捨てられた、放棄された
   Abandoned animals cannot live long on their own because they do not know how or where to get food and water.
5. 5. transition　移行、変化
   The transition from elementary to junior high school is often a difficult one.

1. 1. What are the benefits of older adults keeping pets?
2. 2. Why is the lifespan of pets sometimes a difficulty?
3. 3. What kinds of problems can arise when older adults keep pets?
4. 4. Abandoned pets are a problem in general, not just for some older adults. How can the abandonment of pets be prevented?
5. 5. What things can be done by older adults, family members, and local governments to make it easier for older adults to keep pets?

ペットと暮らす高齢者は多い。シニア世帯や1人暮らしにペットは癒やしと張りを与えてくれる存在だ。世話をすることで要介護リスクが低減するという研究結果もある。

一方で、病気や不意のけがなどで急に飼えなくなる場合も少なくない。「飼いたいが飼えない」といった声も聞く。

高齢者がペットと健康に長く暮らすにはどのような支援やしくみが必要か。「敬老の日」を迎え、改めて社会全体で考える機会としたい。

令和6年のペットフード協会の調べによると、全国の犬の飼育頭数は約680万匹、猫は約900万匹で、飼っている世帯割合はそれぞれ全体の約9％だった。ウサギや鳥、魚類なども加えるともっと多いだろう。

60代以上の飼育者や同居の両親・祖父母がいる世帯にシニアに対するペットの効用を聞くと、犬猫ともに「家族との会話量が増えた」「表情が明るくなった」が上位を占めた。

動物好きの人にとってペットと暮らすことは、日常生活の質を上げることにつながる。

東京都健康長寿医療センターのこんな研究結果も話題になった。犬を飼っている人は、飼っていない人に比べて認知症の発症リスクが約40％低かったという。猫では大きな変化はなかった。犬の散歩による運動や、社会交流などが要因になっているとみられる。

ただ、高齢者ならではの問題がある。犬猫で平均10～20年という寿命を飼い主として全うできるかだ。飼いやすく、コミュニケーションも楽しめるインコやオウムなども人気だが、とりわけ鳥類は長寿ということにも留意したい。

動物愛護管理法でペットの終生適切飼育を求めている。飼い始めたら最後まで面倒をみるのは当然だが、ペットを飼うにはコストもかかる。ネグレクト（飼育放棄）による虐待や捨て犬の野犬化、多頭飼育崩壊なども社会問題化している。

いざというときに困らないよう家族や親族に頼む、施設や団体に託すといった準備をしておくべきだろう。近年シニア向けの飼育支援サービスを手掛ける企業や団体も増えている。

高齢者がペットと暮らすメリットを享受しつつ、生活を支える方策を増やし、人にも動物にも優しい社会を目指したい。