The non-profit Pets for the Elderly pay adoption fees for seniors, more than 5,000 a year, to help them adopt a pet. Amid the pandemic, many seniors are calling for help out of worry that the financial strain makes it harder and harder for them to take care of their pets. Therefore, the program expands to cover the cost of pet care, including food and veterinary visits at participating shelters, for seniors to be able to afford their furry friends.
Owning a pet is good for people’s physical and mental health, especially during the COVID-19 quarantine. Pets have positive effects on people’s anxiety and mood. Furthermore, they are able to “bridge the isolation gap” for older people. The elderly are more willing to maintain their daily routine in a healthful way and take medication regularly when they know someone is relying on them.
友善讓你懂 │ 解說
寵物的陪伴不只能令人感到開心愉快而已。非營利機構「Pets for the Elderly （年長者的寵物）」，每年為超過5000位的年長者，支付領養費用來領養寵物。在疫情期間，許多年長者打電話向他們求助，擔心經濟壓力讓他們越來越無法照顧他們的寵物。因此，這個組織宣布擴展計畫到負擔包括食物、合作庇護所的獸醫診療等寵物的生活照料費用，讓年長者能夠繼續照顧他們的「毛小孩」。
養寵物對人類的生理還有心理健康都有好處，尤其在疫情隔離的高壓期間幫助更大。寵物能對焦慮和情緒帶來正面的影響。除此之外，他們還能為年長者「填補孤獨寂寞的鴻溝」。當年長者知道有人需要依賴他們才能生活的時候，他們會更願意維持健康的生活型態，以及規律地服用藥物，進而更加照顧自己。
輕鬆帶著走 │ 學習
「養寵物/狗/貓」最常見的說法是keep a pet/dog/cat，或是用have a cat、own a dog來表達「有養貓、養狗」，有時候也會使用raise這個動詞，但通常是指從kitten奶貓、puppy幼犬開始養起，跟raise a child 養小孩類似，有「拉拔長大」的感覺。
例句：
She got the permission from her landlord to keep a cat.
她取得房東的同意可以養貓了。
本篇其他相關單字
- adopt (v.) 領養
- strain (n.) 緊張、壓力
- upkeep (n.) 保養費、維修費
- veterinary (adj.) 獸醫的
- shelter (n.) 庇護所
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