It can cost a lot of money to care for a pet. They are sometimes smelly, often messy, and usually noisy. They demand our attention at the most inopportune times. So, why in the world would anyone want a pet?

Pets, all types of pets, make good companions. In a world that is increasingly isolated and impersonal, a pet can bring joy into your home when there is no one else around. The less contact a person has with the world outside his door, the more he needs a pet.

The benefits that a pet brings to an elderly person have been the subject of numerous studies (which you can bet were all funded by your hard earned tax dollars, but that’s another story). As people get older they begin to withdraw more and more from society, as hopping into the car and running into town for some groceries becomes harder and harder. Old friends pass away; kids and grandkids move away.

Introducing a pet into the home of an elderly person brings almost immediate returns. Companionship is a two-way street. The pet owner gets a warm body to spend time with, but he also gets the responsibility that comes with it. The good news is that both sides of that street are to the benefit of a senior citizen.

The pet owner finds renewed purpose in caring for her new dependent. Suddenly, there is a reason to get dressed and go into town: Fluffy needs a new chew toy or she doesn’t seem to like this brand of cat food. Pets are positively good for the aging brain. Give Grandma a cat, and she will spend hours analyzing the pet’s behavior. Instead of rehashing the same old story from life on the farm in 1948, she will tell you new tales of Kitty’s incredible intelligence and personality.

My own research (unofficial and not at all funded by government money) shows a direct correlation between pet ownership and happiness in the lives of septuagenarians. Beyond the companionship, the sense of purpose and usefulness – of being needed – is a great boon for those entering the twilight of their lives.