Meet Jennie: The Robotic Emotional Support Dog Coming to Seniors

In a significant development at the intersection of robotics, healthcare, and emotional wellness, the technology company Tombot has unveiled “Jennie,” a hyper-realistic robotic Labrador retriever designed explicitly to function as an emotional support animal for populations unable to care for a living pet, particularly seniors in assisted living and memory care facilities.

The inspiration for the project is deeply personal, stemming from CEO Tom Stevens’s experience with his mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and subsequently had her dog removed for safety concerns, an event that catalyzed the creation of a technological alternative to mitigate such trauma and loneliness.

Covered in an array of sophisticated sensors, Jennie can detect and respond to human touch and a selection of voice commands, simulating the interactive companionship of a real dog without the associated burdens of feeding, veterinary care, or safety risks.

Currently in a demonstration phase with residents at the MorningStar senior living facility in Las Vegas—where individuals, many over 85, are interacting with the prototype—the robot has already generated substantial global interest, amassing a remarkable waitlist of over 20,000 pre-orders from 116 countries, signaling a vast, untapped market for compassionate assistive technology.

While not yet commercially available, Tombot has announced plans to commence its first paid customer shipments in the coming summer, positioning Jennie not merely as a novelty but as a potential cornerstone in the future of therapeutic care and technological intervention for aging populations and others in need of non-pharmacological emotional support.