Japan's first aged care home for dogs is set to open this week, tapping into a growing market as the problem of ageing spreads from humans to the pet population.
Saradi Corporation will accommodate up to 20 dogs at a facility set up in cooperation with a veterinary surgeon in the resort area of Nasu, north of Tokyo, chief executive Nana Uchida says.
A veterinarian will be on call 24 hours a day and the dogs will have the opportunity to exercise, eat natural foods and mix with younger dogs to maintain their vitality, the company says in a statement.
"We see a strong demand for these services, partly because owners are ageing alongside their dogs and also because many women work nowadays, leaving them no time to care for their dogs," Mr Uchida said.
Many owners find it hard to cope with symptoms of ageing in their pets, such as constant night-time barking, the company says.
Japan is the world's fastest-ageing nation, with 40 per cent of the population expected to be over 65 by the year 2055.
The average lifespan of the Japan's 13 million dogs has also extended from five years or less in the 1980s, to 15 years or more recently, thanks to improved diet and medical care, the company says.
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