Around the world, cats, dogs, and other pets are an integral part of many families. But while improvements to diet and veterinary care have brought increased lifespans, they have also seen an increase in health conditions that affect elderly pets. Shimada Akio is Japan's first veterinary prosthetist, pioneering custom prosthetics and rehabilitation schemes that preserve quality of life for animals who would once have been beyond help, including pets, wild animals, and zoo residents.