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By Derek Cornet

Looking for volunteers

New study underway explores relationship between seniors, pets and loneliness

Aug 14, 2025 | 3:46 PM

The University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine is looking for residents in the tri-communities to participate in a study seeking to understand the complexity of pet attachment and loneliness for seniors living at home.

“We’re really looking to chat with older adults – adults who are over 65 – who are living alone at home to really hear what the experience is to age alone at home with a pet and to understand what that pet means to them in their overall health,” explained Graduate Student and Clinical Associate Catherine Beaupre who is leading the study.

“Also, [we want to] hear about what daily life looks like, and what might be some challenges folks are having to be able to live at home with their pet and how we might be able to make some community change based on what folks are asking for.”

Beaupre noted they would also like to speak with seniors who are living alone without a pet, but wish they did, to learn about the circumstances or factors leading to seniors not being able to live with an animal.

As the baby boomer generation ages, there are more and more people who are over the age of 65 who are choosing to remain at home instead of transitioning into other living circumstances. As that population increases, there has also been a general increase in pet ownership.

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“In particular, we are interested in talking to those who are living alone, because folks who don’t have as many social connections than people who do, are at risk of loneliness,” Beaupre said.

“We know folks who experience loneliness are just as likely to experience poor health or die of loneliness as they are to things like sedentary behaviour or things like lifelong smoking. It’s a big impact on people’s health. The impacts might be a way to alleviate that, so that’s why we are hoping to understand a bit more.”

Beaupre is hoping to have interview recruitment completed by the end of August and have the study finished in about one year. Once finished, the study will be shared with partners, community members and interviewees as a way to collect further information about what the next steps should be.

“Our goal is we don’t want the information from the study to live in the walls of academia,” Beaupre added.

“We are really hoping we can use the information from the study to make change, whether that’s policy on the community level or education of health care, veterinarian or social work folks depending on what folks are needing or wanting to hear.”

Those interested in participating in the study can reach Beaupre at 1-306-966-7169. Participants will receive financial compensation, as well as be given access to a summary of mental health and pet resources in their region.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com