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SCAS welcomes parliamentary support for Pets for Life campaign

SCAS will receive a welcome boost of support this Friday 5 March, when Nigel Waterson MP presents to the House of Commons the Second Reading of his Private Member's Bill to increase the number of residential care and sheltered housing providers which allow pets to live with their owners.

As Shadow Minister for Older People, Nigel Waterson MP explains: "The UK needs to adopt a more enlightened and responsible policy towards increasing the number of care homes and sheltered housing accommodation which allow pets in residence. The current practice is totally unacceptable in a civilised country and we should follow the example of countries, such as France and the USA, who have passed legislation aimed at allowing people to keep their beloved pets." 

The campaign is also supported by The Blue Cross, The Anchor Trust and Hanover.     

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Animal charity welcomes Dignity in Care report
13 January 2010

The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) applauds Sir Michael Parkinson's call this week to break down stereotypes and ensure older people in care are treated with dignity. SCAS is also taking the opportunity to highlight other considerations important to the health and wellbeing of older people, including the companionship of pets.

Jo-Ann Fowler, Director of SCAS, said: "As well as basic crucial standards of care for older people, we must not overlook the lifestyle choices that enhance their quality of life, such as pet ownership. Around a quarter of all people over retirement age own pets, and the health and social benefits are well-documented. But the reality is that many people are forced to give up their beloved pets when they move into care and this issue must form part of the debate about the rights and dignity of older people."

The Pets for Life campaign, launched by SCAS in 2008, aims to highlight the impact on older people of the widespread lack of coherent policies on pet ownership in residential care homes and sheltered accommodation throughout the UK. The charity is urging housing providers to develop clear pet policies to ensure that older people can make informed choices about the most suitable accommodation. More information for pet owners and housing providers is available in this section of the website.

Symposium champions rights of pet owners in residential care

3rd November 2009

A flagship conference takes place next week (Tuesday 3 November) to turn the spotlight on the plight suffered by many older people in Britain who are forced to give up beloved pets when they move into residential care or sheltered housing.

The Older People, Pets and Housing symposium is being organised by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) as part of the charity's 30th anniversary celebrations. The event aims to encourage debate around the issues facing the providers of long term residential care and sheltered housing for the elderly, while debunking some of the common myths about pets in such facilities.

Currently only 35% of homes in the UK have formal policies in place to manage the needs of older people who wish to keep pets, despite a growing body of research which supports the psychological and physiological benefits of pet ownership.

The issue recently attracted cross-party support for a 10 minute rule bill championed by Nick Palmer MP, encouraging the introduction of pet policies in residential care facilities. Dr Palmer will speak at the SCAS conference along with Roger Gale MP who chairs a 'pets and housing' working group and is a patron of SCAS.

The symposium will also bring together speakers from the worlds of veterinary science, geriatric care and nursing, housing provision and academic research, providing a unique overview of the very latest thinking in this field. Discussions will include:

•Insight into cutting edge research and international developments around the potential role of the human-companion animal bond to promote healthy ageing strategies

•The detrimental health and mental impact on older people forced to give up a pet

•Conflicts for providers and policy makers between balancing efficiencies with comfort, security and quality of life for residents in care and sheltered housing

•Developing and implementing positive pet policies among public and private housing providers

Hosting the conference is Elizabeth Ormerod MRCVS, Chairman of the Society for Companion Animal Studies and a practising vet, who has first-hand experience of the trauma faced by older people who are forced to part with much-loved pets to move into care. She has been working to raise awareness of this issue for the last 25 years, most recently with the launch of the SCAS 'Pets for Life' campaign last December.

She said: "For the last 30 years, SCAS has worked to raise awareness of the important bond between people and their pets. While much has been achieved in this time, there is still a frustrating lack of policy to support older and more vulnerable pet owners who arguably have the most to gain from owning a pet yet in many cases are preventing from doing so.

"As the number of older people in Britain continues to grow, it is more important than ever that we ensure the often difficult transition into residential care is as painless as possible. The UK needs to look to the example set by other countries that have introduced legislation to ensure that older people have the right to keep or maintain contact with their animals. In comparison with the USA and many European countries, Britain's track record is frankly lamentable."

The symposium will take place on Tuesday 3 November 2009 from 9:30am to 4.30pm at the Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre, London SW1P 2QD. The conference is aimed at policy makers, health and care professionals, students and researchers, local authorities, older people and organizations which represent the elderly, veterinary professionals, animal welfare organisations and pet owners. Tickets are still available, for more information visit www.scas.org.uk.

2008 Press Releases

Media contact

Laura Dobson, The Blue Cross press office, 020 7932 4065 / 07917 132 698