Research Confirms the Strong Bond Between People and Pets is a Global Phenomenon, 95% Worldwide Say Pets Are Family.
- A recent research survey by The Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Zoetis Animal Health announced the results of a new survey of 16,000 dog and cat owners and 1,200 veterinarians across eight countries and four continents.
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Survey participants included dog and cat owners in eight countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Japan and China. Pet owner participants in the survey were the primary caregivers of their pets, and the samples were nationally representative by gender, age and region. In addition, 1,200 veterinarians across these same countries participated in this research.
Results
- The research shows that the human-animal bond is strong, that pets positively impact their owners’ health, and that stronger bonds are connected to improved veterinary care around the world.
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Key findings show that the human-animal bond is universally valued and recognized among pet owners:
- 95% consider their pet a part of their family
- 92% say there’s no reason they would ever be convinced to give up their pet
- 90% say they have a close relationship with their pet
- 86% would pay whatever it takes if their pet needed extensive veterinary care
- 76% say they would make major life changes for their pet, if necessary
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In addition, pet ownership is strongly linked to improved human health, with the vast majority of pet owners around the world having personally experienced health benefits from the human-animal bond. The findings show that:
- 87% have experienced the mental health and/or physical health benefits of the human-animal bond
- Virtually all pet owners around the world (98%) reported at least one specific benefit to their health from their pets including increased happiness, reduced loneliness, and decreased stress
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Key Findings on Veterinary Care Include:
There is a clear correlation between the strength of the bond and better veterinary care for pets. -
Veterinarians believe in the importance of the human-animal bond for their practice and profession. Eighty-nine percent of veterinarians globally believe a strong human-animal bond increases pet welfare, and 95% credit the human-animal bond as the reason they entered (or joined) the profession.
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“When 95 percent of pet owners globally consider their pet a part of their family, and 98 percent reported that they have personally experienced health benefits from having a pet in their lives, we have documented more comprehensively than ever before that the human-animal bond is universal across countries and cultures,” said Dr. Mike McFarland, DVM, DABVP, Global Chief Medical Officer of Zoetis and Chair of the HABRI Board of Trustees.
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