A LOGAN City Council initiative places senior pets with senior people and a Queensland animal welfare organisation has programs that offer cheaper services.

Companion animal ownership improves quality of life and there are plenty of services stepping up because of it.

The Logan City Council program is called Senior Pets for Senior People and it’s about rehoming mature aged animals by placing them with older residents.

The adoption is free, and each animal comes with a lifetime registration.

Everything is above board and pre-adoption interviews are conducted to make sure the animal and its new human companion are compatible and safe.

Pets provide wonderful companionship and connection.

Furry friends can help diminish feelings of loneliness and disconnection.

Other benefits to pet ownership are how their care leads to better health outcomes.

Dogs require exercise and walking them gets you out of the house and moving.

This can lead to social interaction and when dogs greet each other, strangers are forced into a conversation.

Queensland Animal Welfare League’s Golden Hearts Program was established in 2015 specifically to help seniors who own pets.

People enrolled in the program get a 50 percent discount on annual vaccinations and a 10 percent discount on other services at its three AWLQ Community Vet Clinics.

Their Short Term Emergency Pet Support program is there if an owner is hospitalised and free surrender and rehoming services are available if they have to move to an aged care facility that doesn’t allow pets.

There are even social events where seniors can connect with like-minded individuals who share a love for pets.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners published research titled ‘The ‘pet effect’ Health related aspects of companion’.

The researchers knew companion animal ownership was associated with a range of physical, psychological and social health advantages and wanted to look at ways to integrate companion animals into healthcare.

Findings were that dog owners who exercised their dogs had better cardiovascular health and physical fitness.

Mental health was improved as well.

They concluded that it was important for practitioners to recommend patients with companion animals integrate their pet into their daily schedule.