This blog post was first published as an opinion by Steven Feldman in CQ Roll Call. View the original page here. Capitol Police officers pet a therapy dog near the House carriage entrance in July. We’ve gone from seeing pets as just “fun” to recognizing their help in addressing mental health, medical conditions and social connection, Feldman writes. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call file photo) Many Americans have come to appreciate the power of the human-animal bond through meaningful personal experiences with their pets over the past year and half. The comfort and companionship pets have provided during the pandemic is supported by solid scientific research demonstrating that pets improve our health and well-being. Now is the time to rely on that research and envision policies and programs that recognize pet ownership as a public health strategy. We’ve progressed from a sense that pets are just “fun” to recognizing that pets support positive changes in mental health, address significant medical conditions and promote social connection. Studies even show that pets have the power to lower the cost of health care and strengthen the social fabric of towns...

With the passage of the PAWS Act, domestic violence survivors will soon have more resources needed to seek safe shelter for or with their beloved pets. HABRI is proud to announce that language from the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act has been included as part of the just-passed Farm Bill. This new law establishes a grant program to provide funding for domestic violence shelters for programs and services that help domestic violence survivors seeking safe shelter or transportation for or with their pets. Victims of domestic violence who own pets say they would not leave a dangerous situation unless they could also get their pets out of harm’s way. Yet, fewer than 3% of domestic violence shelters are equipped to accommodate pets. This Federal program will help increase the availability of shelters who can take-in or provide assistance for the pets of survivors. The passage of this legislation would not have been possible without the PAWS Act Coalition, and the many companies, organizations and individuals that support HABRI, who wrote letters to their Members of Congress, attended meetings, made phone calls, and provided grassroots support for this lifesaving bill. A pillar...

A healthy heart is essential for good health at any age. Research suggests that pet ownership and human-animal interaction (HAI) can lead to improved heart health through supporting a healthy lifestyle, preventing heart disease, and facilitating healing following a cardiovascular event. Since February is Heart Health Month, we’ve compiled the top scientific evidence on how the human-animal bond supports goo heart health.   Stress Reduction  High stress can contribute to many health issues associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Stress is also associated with behaviors that increase heart disease, such as physical inactivity and overeating. The CDC recognizes that especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, stress can run high, and stress management is essential to living a healthy life.  Scientific research has supported the concept that people experience less stress in the presence of pets. To measure the impact of companion animals on stress levels, many studies incorporate a transient stressor, such as having study participants perform a challenging arithmetic problem. A study of 120 married couples demonstrated that, in the presence of a...

To help us raise awareness of the health benefits of the human-animal bond with Spanish and Chinese speaking pet owners, we’ve translated the ‘Top 5 Benefits of the Human-Animal Bond’ infographic into Spanish and Mandarin! Download the English language infographic here. Download the Spanish language infographic here. Download the Mandarin Chinese language infographic here. HABRI hopes that in sharing this far and wide, we can encourage people to take care of their pets and remind them that in good times and in bad, our companion animals can be wonderful sources of comfort, joy and support. Please consider posting this infographic on your social media channels, websites and share with your colleagues, friends and family to help us strengthen the human-animal bond for all! #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */ 中文 – 五大益处 人与动物关 English...

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Royal Canin are bringing you trusted information on the importance of the human-cat bond, and ways to ensure you and your cat live healthy, happy lives together. Please consider sharing this infographic on your social media channels, websites and with your colleagues, friends and families, and. learn more about what to do if you spot any issues with your cat’s urinary behavior on Royal Canin’s website here.

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Pet Partners are funding a new scientific research project, awarding $69,841 to Sharmaine Miller, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow currently conducting research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, titled the “Minority Pet Owner Health (MPOH) Project.” The study will investigate whether pet ownership is associated with improved health outcomes of racial and ethnic minority pet owners. According to the research proposal, “People who are racial and ethnic minorities face heightened health, financial, and social adversities (e.g., racism and discrimination), and the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major player in exacerbating and highlighting these injustices. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of pet ownership on minority self-perceived physical and mental health.” “Pet Partners prides itself on creating more accessible programs so that we can deliver hope and healing to diverse communities across the country,” said Pet Partners President & CEO, C. Annie Peters. “We are proud to co-fund this innovative research, which will help address the issue of health equity and disparities by providing...