As part of a campaign to raise awareness of the health benefits of the human-animal bond with pet owners from across the world, we’ve translated the ‘Top 5 Benefits of the Human-Animal Bond’ infographic into French and German!   Download the French language infographic here. Download the German 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: 50%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */ Français – 5 PRINCIPAUX BÉNÉFICES associés à la compagnie d’un animal Deutsch...

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and HABRI has created the following shareable infographic to raise awareness of the recently published HABRI-funded research, the Feline Friends study, which highlights the benefits of adoption of temperament-screened shelter cats for families of children with autism. Pets are common in families of children with autism, and previous research has demonstrated the benefits of interaction with dogs and small animals on individuals with autism, but little was known about cat ownership, until now. Please consider sharing this infographic on your social media channels, websites and with your colleagues, friends and families in celebration of the many ways in which the human-animal bond can make a positive difference in the lives of people with autism!

National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is an opportunity is raise awareness for the importance of making sure pet cats receive proper veterinary care. Cats make wonderful companions, and science shows that cat ownership can provide comfort and social support, improve heart health and resiliency and even help children with Autism. Cats may be more independent compared to some of their canine counterparts, but they need regular veterinary care all the same.   According to a report from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), while about 79 percent of dog owners scheduled annual preventative care in 2016, only about 47 percent of cat owners did the same. Additional research shows that 21 percent of cat owners said they take their cat to the vet only after it already showing signs of illness, and as many as half of all cat owners said taking their cat to the vet is not important, contrary to the advice of veterinarians.   Booking a trip to the veterinarian – especially if you have questions about the process – can be stressful, for both you and your cat. The good news is that there are many resources from the pet care community on how to help...

Results from this HABRI-funded study conducted by researchers at Purdue University are among the first to demonstrate the benefits of psychiatric service dogs for military veterans with PTSD. Please consider sharing this infographic on your social media channels, websites and with your colleagues, friends and families to raise awareness of the many ways in which the human-animal bond can make a positive difference in the lives of people with PTSD.

First published on PetMD May 2nd, 2024 You’ve likely heard that pets can boost your mental and physical well-being, but did you know there’s a growing body of scientific evidence to support this? The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is dedicated to exploring this connection. Here’s one trend being driven by this scientific research: Pets are shedding their “just nice to have” label and instead being recognized as integral to our overall health, especially mental health. More than 1 in 5 U.S. pet owners surveyed have had a pet recommended by a doctor or therapist, and they are increasingly welcomed in the places we live, work, and play. It’s a pet revolution—and for good reason. How Pets Help Shape Our Mental and Physical Well-Being Doctors are recommending more time with pets, small pets are being incorporated into school curriculums, and even workplaces like Chewy are embracing furry coworkers. Why the shift? Here are four good reasons, according to research. Pets Reduce Feelings of Loneliness The COVID-19 pandemic undeniably heightened feelings of isolation and loneliness. But the truth is, loneliness was a social epidemic even...

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...