AUSSIES SAY PETS BELONG IN AGED CARE. SO WHY ARE THEY NOT ALLOWED?
- Amelia Taylor
- Nov 9
- 2 min read
If you’ve ever watched someone have to say goodbye to a pet because they’re moving into aged care, you’ll know the heartbreak is real. It’s the kind that rips right through the chest.
And yet, it continues to happen in this country, because most aged care facilities still don’t allow residents to keep their animals.
Australians are, frankly, over it.
A national survey from Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA) shows 96 per cent of Australians believe older people in aged care should be allowed to keep their pets. Not would like to. Should. Non-negotiable.
But according to external data referenced in the report, only around 18 per cent of aged care facilities currently allow pets. That gap is massive.
Why are we still taking people away from the pets they love?
“The emotional harm of being forced to give up a beloved animal is profound. Older Australians shouldn’t have to choose between care and companionship,” says Trish Ennis, CEO of CANA.
“Despite 86 per cent of Australians saying pets in aged care are ‘vitally important’, external data indicates that only 18 per cent of facilities allow pets,” she says.
“From our survey, half of all facilities rated themselves low on pet-friendliness, and 23 per cent have formal pet policies in place.”
In other words, we know better, but we’re not doing better.
The 2025 survey garnered 2,846 responses, more than double the number of responses from the previous study. And the public sentiment has held steady:
78 per cent believe pets improve mental and physical health in aged care settings.
Which, honestly, is just common sense. Anyone who has ever held a purring cat after a bad day knows.
Even at home, older Australians are struggling to keep their pets
This isn’t just about residential aged care. The problems follow people at home, too. Many older Australians rely on government-funded Home Care Packages.
The survey found that of the 325 respondents receiving in-home care, only 9 per cent were getting any pet care support from their providers.
And here’s the bleak part: 22 per cent said they have delayed their own medical care because they had no one to look after their pet.
Read that again. People are putting off seeing their doctor so their animals don’t end up abandoned.
“The Commonwealth Home Support Programme and HCP should include provisions for pet care to help people stay healthy and at home for longer and help to prevent animals from being euthanised or surrendered to shelters,” Ms Ennis says.
Facilities want to do better. They don’t know how.
It’s not all resistance and bureaucracy. Many aged care providers actually want to be more pet-friendly but say they lack education (45 per cent), resources (42 per cent) and funding for facility design adjustments (45 per cent).
“Education and understanding are key,” says Ms Ennis. “Facilities that welcome pets see happier residents, stronger family connections and greater community interest. It’s not just good welfare. It’s good business.”
CANA is promoting its Pet Friendly Aged Care initiative, which provides templates, risk assessments, and guidelines for incorporating pets into the environment in a safe and structured manner.
