Buddy, the singing Siamese cat, whose voice has been used against cancer and low self-esteem, is set to return this year in a bid to fight depression.

Buddy's owner, psychologist Maureen Burke, says the couple's first tape, BUDDY TARGETS CANCER, proved a major hit among cancer patients. Sound a bit strange? Not really, experts say.

While difficult to quantify, the positive health effects pets have on humans have been the subject of research for several years. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine cites Australian, British and American studies that respectively claim pet owners have: lower blood pressure; significant decreases in minor health problems within one month; and fewer visits to the doctor.

More recently Japanese researchers devised a system to measure the relationship between having or not having a pet and general well-being. Following interviews with 340 people aged 65 and over, researchers found disability levels among pet owners were around 50 per cent lower than those of people without pets. In the lives of older people, many of whom find themselves alone, pets provide companionship and increased levels of activity, while acting as catalysts for person-to-person interaction.

Warwick University researcher June McNicholas highlights the role pets play in helping seniors maintain routines such as eating regular meals, keeping up adequate room temperatures, and going shopping.

Helen Hopkins, 59, says her hearing dog, Buffy, a mixed breed, rescued from an animal shelter, transformed her life after the death of her husband. "After my husband died I became agoraphobic, as I couldn't hear and had no one to help. Then Buffy came and now we're out almost every day," she says. "He hasn't left my side in six years and when I'm in hospital he lifts the morale of the whole ward. I feel like I have something to offer others now. Buffy gives me confidence and security."

The downside to seniors becoming too attached to pets is having to give them up in the move to more appropriate accommodation. McNicholas, a strong advocate of allowing pets in care facilities, says keeping a pet may be one of the few things residents can do to retain links with their former lives.

The good news is many retirement villages recognise the value of pets and their companionship. The Retirement Village Association's official line is that as long as pets don't infringe on the quiet enjoyment of other residents they're welcome. But the ultimate decision to allow pets lies with individual villages. Some villages may allow small dogs that can't be replaced once they've passed on, while other villages exclude pets completely.

Helen's village has a no-pet policy, but legislation allows dogs specially trained for people with hearing and sight impairment access to all places open to the public. Consequently, Buffy is the darling of her village.

Considering the positive health effects and companionship animals bring to their owners, it's surprising more retirement villages don't allow them. I'm sure Buddy would have something to sing about that.