The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) joins our partners at Mental Health America (MHA) in recognizing May as Mental Health Month. Together, we celebrate the role of pets in positively influencing our mental health. This year’s Mental Health Month theme is Look Around, Look Within, which reminds us that where we are born, live, learn, play, work, and congregate all influence our health, and that we all benefit from stable environments and strong communities. For nearly 70% of U.S. households  pets are part of the family and have a significant influence on our mental health. Eighty-Seven percent of pet owners have experienced mental health improvements resulting from pet ownership, and research has shown the benefits for the long-term management of mental health conditions. HABRI is proud to champion research on the vital role of the human-animal bond in the health and well-being of people, pets, and the communities where we live. In light of this year’s theme, we’ve compiled research and information that illustrates how pets can empower better mental health. Look Around: Pets and Community Well-Being Our surroundings say a lot about our mental health. A strong sense...

While this Thanksgiving holiday is quite different for so many, one thing we can be thankful for is the human-animal bond. Pets have been a bright spot during the pandemic, and research conducted since the onset of the pandemic suggests that the human-animal bond is helping support the health and wellness of people and pets in important ways.   To help raise awareness of the benefits of pets during these difficult times, HABRI created the following shareable infographic. Please consider sharing this infographic on your social media channels, websites and with your colleagues, friends and family. Giving thanks to our pets is more than a holiday tradition this year; it is a recognition of the growing importance of the human-animal bond. However you celebrate this year, HABRI wishes everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday. References 1.    APPA Pulse Survey Volume 1 2.    Survey Research conducted by Phyllis Erdman, College of Education, Washington State University, and a team of collaborators from Colorado State University, the University of San Francisco and Palo Alto University 3.    McNicholas, June. “The role of pets in the lives of older...

Ask any pet owner and they’ll agree, pets enrich our lives. Did you know? There’s scientific research that supports the human-animal bond – or the mutually beneficial relationship between people and pets – for a happier, healthier life. HABRI has created this new infographic highlighting the benefits of a healthy relationship with a pet. 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 with your colleagues, friends and family to help us strengthen the human-animal bond for all! References Allen, K., Blascovich, J., & Mendes, W. B. (2002). Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: The truth about cats and dogs. Psychosomatic medicine, 64(5), 727-739. Janevic, M., Solway, E., Malani, P., Kirch, M., Kullgren, J., & Connell, C. (2019). National Poll on Healthy Aging: How pets contribute to healthy aging. Brooks, H., Rushton, K., Walker, S., Lovell, K., & Rogers, A. (2016). Ontological...

Scene from The Woofice June 19-23 is National Take Your Pet to Work Week! An increasing number of people want to work in a pet-friendly environment, and employers are recognizing the importance of offering pet-oriented benefits to their employees. The presence of pets in the office has been shown to improve psychological well-being and life satisfaction among working adults[1], in addition to improving productivity[2] and cooperation[3] between employees. A study conducted by Nationwide in partnership with HABRI further reveals that pet-inclusive workplaces boost recruitment, increase engagement, improve presenteeism, and raise retention rates for employees. While there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to welcoming pets in the workplace, introducing pets at work should involve thoughtful planning and a comprehensive framework. The pet care community is leading the way in implementing pet-friendly workplaces and offering guidelines and best practices to ensure pet-friendly policies work for everyone while protecting the health and well-being of all. While we love to celebrate Take Your Pet to Work Week, there are many ways employers can demonstrate that they care about pets, even...

Autism is a complex neurological and developmental condition that begins early in life and affects how a person interacts, communicates and learns. Autism is highly-individualized and everyone with autism experiences it differently, which is why autism is often described as occurring on a spectrum. A growing body of research demonstrates that interaction with dogs can positively impact children with autism, particularly for improved communication, mental health, and classroom learning. Please consider sharing this infographic on your social media channels, websites and with your colleagues, friends and families to raise awareness of how dogs can help children with autism.   More on the Benefits of the Human-Animal Bond for People with Autism Blog: How Dogs Help People with Autism Blog: How Different Types of Companion Animals Can Improve Outcomes for Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Shareable Infographic: Benefits of Pet Cats for Children with Autism Blog: The Human-Animal Bond for Autism Spectrum Disorder

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...