Pet Support for Ageing Pet Owners
Pets and Positive Ageing recognises that supporting pet owners to care for their pets is a priority, both for the welfare of the pet and the person.
If you or a family member need assistance there is more information at www.myagedcare.gov.au. You can arrange an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) visit (at no charge) by phoning 1800 200 422. It is also important to mention your pet during your ACAT assessment and ask if your pet care needs can be taken into account. Check with your provider if they can assist.
COTA ACT also provides a list of pet care services that provide a discount to seniors and pensioners.
Existing Providers who may Provide Pet Support:
Dog Walking, Grooming and Transport
Furry Favours can offer pet support, including transport, and they have a subsidised scheme for pensioners. DTC Care, an NDIS provider also offers dog walking, transport and other pet-friendly services for older pet owners. In Cairns Ten Years Younger Home Care offers support with dog walking.
Driving Miss Daisy offers safe, pet-friendly and reliable companion driving services.
Veterinary Services
There are two big afterhours veterinary hospitals, the Animal Referral Hospital and Canberra Veterinary Emergency Service, it is always a good idea to call ahead and check staffing levels and wait times. We now also have an afterhours GP Clinic called the Walk-in Clinic for Animals, available Wednesday - Sunday 7 pm - 11 pm and Valley Vet Emergency on the weekends.
Many veterinarians also offer home visits for your pet including Canberra Mobile Vets, Angel's Touch and Pawssum. End-of-life care, including palliative care and home euthanasia for your beloved companion, is available with the Sunset Vets, the Kindest Goodbye and Rest Your Paws.
For online veterinary advice Your Vet Online and Vet Chat can provide telehealth consultations for your pet and Knose Pet Health Hotline is a team of vet nurses who can provide advice 24/7 online.
Pet Behaviour
There are two veterinarians in Canberra with memberships in animal behaviour, Dr Isabelle Resche and our Vice President Dr Eloise Bright. There is information and an updated list of excellent, positive dog trainers here.
Emergency Boarding or Care
The RSPCA runs a Home Ever After, where you can make provisions for your pet should something happen and you can no longer take care of them. Details about the program are here. RSPCA ACT is in some cases able to provide emergency boarding for up to two weeks.
Financial Assistance for Vet Bills
Local organisation, Care Finance is able to offer interest-free loans for up to $2000 for people in financial distress. This can be used for boarding, desexing and vet care. Good Shepherd Foundation also has a no interest loan scheme for up to $2000 which can also cover vet bills.
RSPCA ACT is in some cases able to help low income pet owners access veterinary care and financial assistance with vet bills can be provided by ACT Pet Crisis Support through any local veterinarian. Pet owners with a Healthcare Card can also attend the Tiny Vet Clinic. Some veterinary clinics, including RSPCA ACT also accept Centrepay.
Pet Loss Counselling
There are now a number of options to help with the loss of a beloved pet. Your Sunset provides specialised pet counselling as does Dr David Foote.
The information in this list is intended to provide general information and guidance. You must consider your and your pet's needs and resources before engaging any of these providers. While we endeavour to keep the information on the website as accurate, complete and up-to-date as possible, we do not represent or make any warranty in respect of the accuracy, reliability, completeness, currency or continuous supply of any of the content.
If you or a family member need assistance there is more information at www.myagedcare.gov.au. You can arrange an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) visit (at no charge) by phoning 1800 200 422. It is also important to mention your pet during your ACAT assessment and ask if your pet care needs can be taken into account. Check with your provider if they can assist.
COTA ACT also provides a list of pet care services that provide a discount to seniors and pensioners.
Existing Providers who may Provide Pet Support:
- Feros Care
- LDK
- Mercy Health
- RSL LifeCare
- Link Health and Community
- Anglicare
- Hammond Care
- Royal Freemasons' Benevolent Institution
Dog Walking, Grooming and Transport
Furry Favours can offer pet support, including transport, and they have a subsidised scheme for pensioners. DTC Care, an NDIS provider also offers dog walking, transport and other pet-friendly services for older pet owners. In Cairns Ten Years Younger Home Care offers support with dog walking.
Driving Miss Daisy offers safe, pet-friendly and reliable companion driving services.
- East Canberra and Queanbeyan book via [email protected] (0419 255 395).
- Gungahlin book via [email protected] (0455 182 024).
- Woden Valley book via [email protected] (0447 197 259).
Veterinary Services
There are two big afterhours veterinary hospitals, the Animal Referral Hospital and Canberra Veterinary Emergency Service, it is always a good idea to call ahead and check staffing levels and wait times. We now also have an afterhours GP Clinic called the Walk-in Clinic for Animals, available Wednesday - Sunday 7 pm - 11 pm and Valley Vet Emergency on the weekends.
Many veterinarians also offer home visits for your pet including Canberra Mobile Vets, Angel's Touch and Pawssum. End-of-life care, including palliative care and home euthanasia for your beloved companion, is available with the Sunset Vets, the Kindest Goodbye and Rest Your Paws.
For online veterinary advice Your Vet Online and Vet Chat can provide telehealth consultations for your pet and Knose Pet Health Hotline is a team of vet nurses who can provide advice 24/7 online.
Pet Behaviour
There are two veterinarians in Canberra with memberships in animal behaviour, Dr Isabelle Resche and our Vice President Dr Eloise Bright. There is information and an updated list of excellent, positive dog trainers here.
Emergency Boarding or Care
The RSPCA runs a Home Ever After, where you can make provisions for your pet should something happen and you can no longer take care of them. Details about the program are here. RSPCA ACT is in some cases able to provide emergency boarding for up to two weeks.
Financial Assistance for Vet Bills
Local organisation, Care Finance is able to offer interest-free loans for up to $2000 for people in financial distress. This can be used for boarding, desexing and vet care. Good Shepherd Foundation also has a no interest loan scheme for up to $2000 which can also cover vet bills.
RSPCA ACT is in some cases able to help low income pet owners access veterinary care and financial assistance with vet bills can be provided by ACT Pet Crisis Support through any local veterinarian. Pet owners with a Healthcare Card can also attend the Tiny Vet Clinic. Some veterinary clinics, including RSPCA ACT also accept Centrepay.
Pet Loss Counselling
There are now a number of options to help with the loss of a beloved pet. Your Sunset provides specialised pet counselling as does Dr David Foote.
The information in this list is intended to provide general information and guidance. You must consider your and your pet's needs and resources before engaging any of these providers. While we endeavour to keep the information on the website as accurate, complete and up-to-date as possible, we do not represent or make any warranty in respect of the accuracy, reliability, completeness, currency or continuous supply of any of the content.
Pet Friendly Aged Care |
Renting with PetsThe recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to reduce discrimination against renters with pets, will improve access to pet-friendly rental accomodation. A Factsheet on what these changes mean is available here.
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