When Tucker was 7 years old, we went through some real tough times with IBD where I almost lost him several times over a year's time. That is when I got his stroller, because he felt so bad not being able to go for any more walks with me because he was too weak and in discomfort. I could let him walk a bit, then recover in the stroller, then walk a bit... etc. And as Karen mentioned, it is a matter of necessity when there could be foods dropped onto the ground and you have a pet without that "iron stomach" that I've heard of. Also, when I traveled in the car, (not infrequently,) it was too hot to leave him in the car if I went shopping, or going places that didn't "allow" dogs, but the stroller was perfect for those situations. Even if people frown on dogs being around them, they don't seem to mind when they are confined to a stroller.