National animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA) has welcomed the passage of the Retirement Villages Amendment Bill 2024 (Vic) through both Houses of the Victorian Parliament.
They say it's a significant and compassionate win for the rights and wellbeing of older Australians and their companion animals.
Among the suite of reforms designed to strengthen consumer protections in retirement living, the new legislation includes a landmark provision that prohibits retirement villages from having rules which “unreasonably limit the keeping a pet on a resident’s premises”.
“With 95% of people agreeing that pets improve health outcomes for older Australians, pet-friendly aged care should be the norm, not the exception,” said Trish Ennis, CEO of CANA.