Lonely Seniors Turn to Robot Dogs for Companionship

New York's Department for the Aging (DFTA) has implemented a statewide pilot program that is deploying robot pets made by Hasbro to 60 seniors to alleviate their loneliness, reports the New York Post . The toymaker donated the robo-dogs and robo-cats, which feature built-in sensors that respond to touch and movement. The robo-cats take "naps" after repeated petting, while the robo-dogs respond to sounds and even have a heartbeat. DFTA Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez says the artificial pets are "a wonderful way to replace that same gratification and tenderness and joy that you once had with your pets." But these dogs don't have to be walked, and seniors don't have to feed or provide veterinary care.