Calgary seniors communities should be more pet friendly says researcher

A researcher at the University of Calgary is calling for seniors' communities and affordable housing to become more inclusive for older adults and their pets. Along with providing emotional support and other health benefits, pets can be a financial challenge for some senior owners, says Dr. Ann Toohey, a UCalgary researcher and adjunct assistant professor and manager of the Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging. In Canada, 40 per cent of adults between age 65 and 69 have a pet, while only 22 per cent