Pets important to older people says MP Nigel
EASTBOURNE and Willingdon MP Nigel Waterson was scheduled to have the Second Reading of his Bill aimed at increasing the number of care homes and sheltered housing which allow pets to live with their elderly owners last week.
The Bill has cross-party support and Nigel has long supported moves to encourage care homes and sheltered accommodation to be more flexible with their pets policy.
At the moment some 38,000 healthy animals are put down every year as too few homes allow older people to bring their pets with them when they move in. Another 100,000 have to be given up for adoption with many being very distressed by their abandonment and having to be put down as well.
Nigel said, "Pets are an important source of physical, emotional and social support for older people. They have proven health benefits for the elderly and can improve cardiovascular and mental health.
"They are also a great antidote for loneliness, which can afflict so many older people."
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said, "We would welcome legislation that ensures that responsible pet owners are not unreasonably denied the ownership of a pet, providing they are able to meet their welfare needs, which includes ensuring that their environment is suitable."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
