Educational Partnerships | HABRI

Educational Partnerships

HABRI partners with a growing number of organizations to raise awareness of the health benefits of the human-animal bond. The more pet owners know about the scientifically documented health benefits of pets, the more likely they are to take better care of them and to support policies that help make society more pet-friendly.

HABRI thanks its partners for incorporating information on the human-animal bond into the important work they do! Please learn about these organizations and the resources they provide. Together, we can spread the message that pet ownership supports healthier individuals, families and communities.

If your organization is interested in developing a partnership with HABRI, or for more information regarding HABRI partnerships, please contact Lindsey Braun at lbraun@habri.org.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States ages 18 and older, or 18% of the population. ADAA’s mission focuses on improving quality of life for those with these disorders. Eighty million American households have at least one pet, and scientific research is continuing to demonstrate the benefits of human-animal interaction for mental health – including reducing stress, depression, and anxiety.

ADAA provides education and helps people find treatment, resources, and support. ADAA strives to improve patient care by promoting implementation of evidence-based treatments and best practices across disciplines through continuing education and trainings and accelerating dissemination of research into practice. ADAA promotes scientific innovation and engages a diverse network of basic and clinical anxiety and depression researchers and providers encouraging the implementation of new treatments to clinicians. These commitments drive ADAA’s promise to find new treatments and one day prevent and cure these disorders.

Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations

The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) is a non-profit association, established in Belgium in 2014. GAPFA represents thirteen national and regional pet food industry associations and three companies of pet food manufacturers across the globe. GAPFA’s mission is to support the health and wellbeing of dogs and cats and to promote the benefits of living with them, by providing a forum to address industry consensus on key issues of mutual interest. The Alliance works to promote adherence to food safety and nutritional standards enabling manufacturers to deliver wholesome, healthy and nutritious prepared pet foods; to promote the feeding of prepared pet food to support the health and wellbeing of pets; and to develop and disseminate educational resources which highlight and enhance the benefits of human pet interaction. For further information, please visit www.gapfa.org.

Guard Your Health

Maintaining mission readiness, while balancing dual responsibilities as citizens and Soldiers, can present challenges for Army National Guard Soldiers and their families. Guard Your Health supports the Army National Guard Chief Surgeon’s efforts to build and sustain a resilient, adaptable, and medically ready Citizen-Soldier force. The campaign provides information on health topics, such as fitness and nutrition, as well as topics specific to Guard life, such as helping Soldiers find resources to care for their pets.

Guard Your Health provides a central place for Army National Guard Soldiers and family members to find information and resources on health and medical readiness. Guard Your Health’s goal is to give Army National Guard Soldiers the information, motivation and support to overcome challenges and make healthy decisions for themselves, their families and their units.

Mental Health America

Mental Health America (MHA) completes more than 3,000 mental health each day, and works with a network of more than 200 affiliates in 42 states, 6,500 affiliate staff and over 10,000 volunteers, who effectively connect, engage and educate the millions of Americans living with or effected by a mental illness. MHA believes that pets can play a positive role in boosting mental health.

Mental Health America (MHA) was founded in 1909 and is the nation’s leading community-based non-profit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need it; with recovery as the goal.

National Council on Aging

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a respected national leader and trusted partner to help people aged 60+ navigate aging. It provides real-life solutions online and in the community that empower older adults to find benefits programs to pay for daily needs, make the most of their Medicare coverage, prevent falls, manage chronic conditions, and stay active and engaged in their communities. Formed in 1950, NCOA’s goal is to impact the health and economic security of 40 million older adults by 2030, especially women, people of color, LGBTQ+, low-income, and rural individuals. Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.

Pet Partners

Pet Partners and HABRI are working together to advance both scientific study and public policy that recognizes the positive impact that companion animals have on human health. Pet Partners is mobilizing its network of 15,000 therapy animal teams to demonstrate and share information about the power of the human-animal bond. Pet Partners supports HABRI at events, including Pet Night on Capitol Hill and Global Pet Expo, by giving participants hands-on experience with therapy animals.

Nearly forty years since the organization’s inception, Pet Partners’ high standards and best practices are a model for animal-assisted interventions, making it the recognized leader in animal-assisted therapy, activities and education. Pet Partners registers handlers of multiple species as volunteer teams and provides innovative programs that bring therapy animals to hospitals, schools, libraries, nursing homes and more. For information about Pet Partners, please visit petpartners.org.

Waltham Petcare Science Institute

Waltham is the science center for Mars Petcare. Waltham’s research teams work across multiple disciplines such as nutrient requirements for pets, the dog and cat microbiome, biomarkers of health and disease, and feeding behavior. Waltham also supports research in partnership with organizations around the world to understand how our relationship with pets can help both pets and their owners to live healthy, happy lives together. Waltham has provided the science and expertise that is used across leading Mars Petcare brands including PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD™ Pet Hospital, VCA™, ANICURA™, LINNAEUS™, WISDOM PANEL™, WHISTLE™, CESAR®, NUTRO™, SHEBA® and DREAMIES™.

Since Waltham’s first scientific paper over 50 years ago, the Institute has shared its expertise through over 1700 publications, including more than 600 peer-reviewed journal articles. In addition, Waltham’s researchers collaborate with some of the world’s most renowned veterinary and nutrition scientists.  Waltham also shares its research findings at conferences and events around the globe, including the open forum, the WALTHAM™ International Nutritional Sciences Symposium.

Waltham has a number of funding and award opportunities available in order to advance pet care research, share knowledge and support the education of scientists, veterinarians, and human-animal interaction researchers to deliver Waltham’s Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™.. For more information about the Waltham grants & awards, please visit: https://www.waltham.com/grants-awards

World Small Animal Veterinary Association

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), based in Ontario, Canada, is a global community of more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide drawn from 113 member associations. WSAVA was created in 1961 following a decision by the then International Association of Small Animal Specialists (IASAS) to rename itself as the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. WSAVA’s mission is to advance the health and welfare of companion animals worldwide through an educated, committed and collaborative global community of veterinary peers. Much of WSAVA’s work is delivered through Clinical Committees, which work together to develop WSAVA Global Guidelines, information, tools and other educational resources to support companion animal veterinarians. They also campaign on key issues to veterinarians globally, such as animal welfare, professional wellness and equitable access to veterinary therapeutics. To learn more, visit wsava.org.

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