Les Leech, 83, moves through the halls of Greenway Views quickly on his mobility scooter, his dog Chaser sitting between his feet.
Chaser is one of 47 pets living at Greenway Views, an aged care facility in Tuggeranong.
After experiencing a stroke that left him hospitalised for three months, Mr Leech and his family decided that aged care was their best option, however there was one non-negotiable.
"If dogs were not allowed, I wouldn't be here," he said.
"I would be fighting with my daughter, but I would not be here."
According to the Pet Friendly Aged Care survey conducted by Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA) just 18 per cent of aged care facilities in Australia allow for residents to keep their pets.
"Older people were finding out they couldn't take their pets into retirement villages," said President of Pets and Positive Ageing (PAPA) Di Johnstone. "Their pets were ending up in pounds or shelters or sometimes euthanised."
PAPA is a non-for-profit organisation that advocates for older pet owners and their pets to stay together. They are a key source of information for Canberrans over what care facilities are pet friendly and have pushed for broader pet allowances within ACT retirement facilities.
"People don't want to lose their pet when they transition into a home. They are family," Mrs Johnstone said.
PAPA was one of 10 Canberran organisations to receive funding recently from the ACT government for animal welfare.
Government Services Minister Tara Cheyne said "this funding is intended to provide timely support for Canberra's organisations, recognising the efforts of existing volunteer groups actively caring for Canberra's companion animals."
Chaser, 13, was originally Mr Leech's wife's dog. They got him during the early stages of her Alzheimer's and as her condition worsened she made Les promise that he would look after Chaser.
When the time came to make the decision of where to go, Mr Leech was lucky to secure a rare spot at a place that would take his dog as well.
"I think it is very important that retired people should be allowed to keep their pets," Mr Leech said. "The comfort of having the animal with you is tremendous. It takes away any loneliness and makes you feel your existence is important because you have them."
74 per cent of respondents to CANA's survey said they felt a reduced sense of loneliness; 44 per cent said they experienced better mental health outcomes; and 45 per cent said their transition was easier when pets were allowed to live alongside their owners in aged care facilities.
"It gives me a sense of community," Mr Leech said. "I don't hear a lot of what is going on, but at the dog park I get all the local news."
Jim Quick is a fellow fixture of the Greenway Views dog park alongside his five-month-old puppy Charlie. Charlie is the second dog Mr Quick and his wife Pat have had at Greenway Views, having originally moved in with their dog Fluffy.
"If I couldn't have brought my dog, I wouldn't have come," Mr Quick said.
"It would have been like losing a member of the family."
Having pets in aged care facilities don't just bring joy to their owners, said Mr Quick, they also have a positive effect on the community.
"A lot of the residents, particularly the ladies, get a lot of pleasure from the little dogs being around," he said. "They all get a bit of a cuddle and Charlie's quite happy with that."
Some negative factors of having pets in aged care facilities include the physical difficulties of older people caring for ageing pets, the socialisation of animals in aged care facilities and tripping hazards for the elderly.
Although pets can provide an extra-headache the joy they bring to their owners and community is worth the hassle, said Mr Quick.
"I mean, we've had our issues but owners here are responsible to make sure their pets behave themselves," said Mr Quick.
"They have a very positive effect and the dogs are very calming, particularly for people who are ill."
The 2024 Aged Care Bill released on September 12 now included the right to stay connected with "significant persons in the individual's life and pets."
It has also modified the definition of high quality care to include "supporting the individual to remain connected to the natural environment, and animals and pets, where the individual chooses to."
"We think this absolutely commendable, the significance of recognising the human animal connection and bond has massive implications. We congratulate the government for taking this stance." said CEO of Companion Animal Network Australia, Trish Ennis.
