Is buying a pet for an aging parent a good idea? It depends on the animal. While pets provide enjoyment, companionship and love, they can be a huge responsibility for an owner, no matter what his/her age. Dogs, for example, can be very challenging ... they must be properly trained as well as taken outside to do their "business" on a regular basis.
In chatting with one caregiver recently, she shared how she had given into her mother's requests and bought a puppy. The puppy, of course, was very playful and would often jump up on this woman's mother's legs to greet her. One cannot blame the puppy for this as it was just naturally delighted to see her, but, in doing so, the puppy badly scratched the mother's lower legs continually - a very painful experience. This woman's mother did not have the energy to properly train it so the puppy continued to do so as well as ransack the mother's home, chewing everything in sight. Instead of becoming a faithful friend, the puppy turned out to become more of a menace.
With giving a dog to Mom or Dad, the animal will, likely and ultimately, become your responsibility. You may have to train the dog, walk it and even perhaps feed it (if Mom or Dad begins to overlook this). Chances are that you will not have the time or the energy to add these additional jobs to your plate. If you still like the idea of bringing a dog into your parent's home, do so on a temporary basis. Leash up your own dog (or a friend's) for a shorter visit ... pet therapy has been proven effective for older individuals. I have seen a number of long-term care centres offer this type of program for those living there or have a resident cat (which can happily survive with much less constant attention). This type of arrangement is far preferred.
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