A four-legged friend

Taking tiny steps, Suzy the cocker spaniel walks patiently alongside Daniel Lienard as he slowly but surely makes his way down the long hallway to the activity room. Lienard is assisted by a walker so it takes him a while to get there.Suzy, his faithful four-legged companion, is with him every little step of the way.Born in France, Lienard spent most of his life in Wyoming working as a sheepherder so he was around dogs for almost all of his life. At 70 years old, he became a resident at the Poplar Living Center, an assisted-living facility in Casper. Shortly after he moved in, he asked if he could get a dog. Lucky for him, the Center allows pets."I'm happier having her," he says, with a slight French accent. "Dogs are the best company."
Company is what many seniors need. Having a pet can give an older person a sense of purpose, a reason to exercise and, most of all, a friend.Diane Pomerance, pet specialist and author of "Pet Parenthood: Adopting the Right Animal Companion for you," is a strong advocate of pet ownership for older people who are able to care for a dog or a cat."There are so many health benefits, but basically it's a companionship for somebody who otherwise would be alone or lonely," Pomerance said. "Animals are unconditionally loving. They don't see the IVs, they don't see the wheelchair. They relate on a level that is just intangible. They see right to the heart of a person."Studies show that seniors who own pets have shorter hospital stays than other seniors, suggesting that pets enable older people to better handle stressful events. Older people who own dogs also get more exercise than other seniors.The simple act of petting a dog can lower a person's blood pressure.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pet owners have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reduced feelings of loneliness. Pets also increase opportunities for exercise and socialization.For aging Baby Boomers, pet ownership can help with a number of health concerns, including psychological challenges. Pets can help ward off the depression associated with Empty Nest Syndrome, which many parents have to cope with after their kids have grown up and moved away. Pets can also help an older person overcome feelings of grief and loss after a loved one has died."As we get older and start outliving our friends, our spouses and our siblings, we face tremendous loss and loneliness," Pomerance said. "The unconditional love of a pet can be a great comfort when you're grieving and struggling to deal with a roller coaster of emotions."Friends in need, friends indeedPomerance urges people who want pets to adopt them from an animal shelter. Pet adoptions save thousands of unwanted animals from being euthanized. Saving an animal helps both the person and the pet, she said.But people looking to adopt an animal companion should carefully consider the challenges of taking care of it."It requires a commitment, a responsibility," she said. "People really need to think about the pet's needs and requirements."Seniors should take into consideration any health limitations or housing issues they have that could limit their abilities to care for the animal.Dogs need exercise, a fenced yard and lots of attention. Cats need attention too. All pets need someone to clean up after them -- whether it's changing a litter box or picking up poop in the yard.It's important to match the type of pet to the older person's personality and physical abilities."You may want to consider a middle-aged animal who's pretty mellow and has outgrown the puppy stage," she said. "You want a dog or cat with a temperament that suits yours. There are many considerations. Are you going to resent having to exercise your dog? Then you may want to consider a cat, which still requires some interaction."Barb Huffman, shelter manager of the Casper Humane Society, agrees that pets are great for seniors. She said the animal shelter will help match a person with the right kind of pet."You don't want to send a 90-pound lunker home with an 89-pound woman in a walker," Huffman said.Seniors should also consider the financial obligations of buying pet food and paying for veterinary care."It's probably one of the most rewarding experiences there are for an older person," Pomerance said. "All they require is love and, yeah, a little kibble."