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HABRI works to educate as many people as possible about the health benefits of the human-animal bond for a healthier, more pet-friendly society. Education is a powerful tool not only to promote awareness, but to inspire action. From HABRI’s survey of pet owners, we know that the more people learn about the science of the human-animal bond, the more likely they are to take better care of their pets.
The following is a series of downloadable, shareable resources from HABRI about the research on the health benefits of the human-animal bond.
Please feel free to share these resources on your social media channels, websites, and blogs, and to share with your colleagues, friends and family. Thank you!
Pet Owners Survey
In 2016, the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) partnered with Cohen Research Group to conduct an online survey of 2,000 pet owners, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2%.
This is the first survey of its kind to explore how pet owners’ knowledge of the health benefits of the human-animal bond impacts pet care and welfare. The survey indicated a strong awareness of the health benefits of the human-animal bond among pet owners, and that the more pet owners learn about the science behind the bond, the more likely they are to take actionable steps to take better care of their pets, including regular visits to the veterinarian.
To read and share the comprehensive survey results, please see the Pet Owners Factsheet here:
Physicians Survey
In 2014, HABRI partnered with the Cohen Research Group to conduct an online panel survey of 1,000 doctors and family physicians. The physicians in the survey had a median of 18 years of practice experience. Results from the survey indicate that most doctors have experience working with animals in medicine and that doctors overwhelmingly believe there are health benefits to pet ownership.
Health Care Savings of Pet Ownership
HABRI commissioned an economic analysis on the healthcare cost savings associated with pet ownership, conducted by two researchers from George Mason University. From the data collected, the researchers calculated an $11.7 billion savings in U.S. healthcare costs as a result of pet ownership. HABRI created a shareable infographic highlighting these savings:
- Health Care Cost Savings of Pet Ownership Infographic
- Full Report: Healthcare Cost Savings from Pet Ownership
Nationwide/HABRI Pet-Friendly Workplace Survey
A recent study conducted by Nationwide, in partnership with HABRI, reveals key findings on the benefits of pets in the workplace for workplace wellness. A key summary of the findings can be found in this handout:
- Pet-friendly workplace: Research Summary
- Press Release: Study indicates pet friendly companies are more likely to attract, engage and retain employees
Shareable Infographics
HABRI has also compiled a selection of the most important findings into shareable infographics.
- Pet-friendly workplace: Employee Attraction
- Pet-friendly workplace: Employee Engagement
- Pet-friendly workplace: Knowledge of the Human-Animal Bond
- Pet-friendly workplace: Employee Relationships
- Pet-friendly workplace: Employee Retention
- Pet-friendly workplace: Data on pet ownership and exercise
Pet-Inclusive Housing Survey
Michelson Found Animals Foundation and HABRI commissioned a groundbreaking survey of renters and property managers to gain an accurate understanding of the state of pet-friendly rental housing in the United States. The results of the survey show there is a disconnect between the supply and demand for rental housing that is truly pet-friendly, which impacts resident decision making when selecting housing. In fact, pet-friendly rental housing continues to be a barrier for pet owners throughout the United States. Despite a high volume of renters seeking homes that accept pets, they report that pet-friendly options are hard to find.
Michelson Found Animals Foundation and HABRI believe that pets enrich people’s lives and that everyone should have access to the joy of pets.
The Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative was created to field research that demonstrates the benefits of pet-friendly housing to owner/operators, residents, and communities. From this research, we develop resources and partnerships that seek to increase the availability of pet-friendly rental housing.
Review more resources from the Pet Inclusive Housing Initiative and see key findings:
- From HABRI.org: Pet Inclusive Housing Initiative
- Press Release: Easing Restrictions on Pets in Rental Housing Could Help 8.75 Million Pets Find Homes Over Time
- Pet Inclusive Housing Initiative Microsite
Cat Allergens Survey
HABRI and Purina Pro Plan partnered to conduct a survey of cat owners to find out how cat allergens impact all aspects of life, both functional and emotional, in allergen-sensitive households. The data reveals how cat owners and their families are impacted by cat allergens and highlights the need for a better way to manage cat allergens.
Results from this survey are featured in full in the following research page:
To help raise awareness of these results, HABRI and Purina Pro Plan released the following infographic highlighting data from the Cat Allergens Survey:
Read more about the announcement of the Cat Allergens Survey:
HABRI Shareable Infographics
HABRI created the following infographics to deliver the message about the healing power of pets in a simple, easy-to-share format. Download and share these today!
- Top 5 Benefits of Cat Ownership
- 5 Ways the Human-Animal Bond is Improving Lives during the Pandemic
- Top Benefits of Pet Ownership for Healthy Hearts
- The Feline Friends Study: Benefit of Pet Cats for Children with Autism
HABRI partnered with Mental Health America to create the following infographic on the mental health benefits of pet ownership:
HABRI has created the following infographic to elucidate the distinction between different classifications of companion animals, namely service animals, emotional support animals, therapy animals, and pets.
Social Isolation, Loneliness and Companion Animals
HABRI and Mars Petcare convened experts in public health, research, psychology, gerontology, and veterinary medicine in Washington, D.C. for the first-ever Summit on Social Isolation and Companion Animals. This Summit explored the role that HAI and pet ownership may play in helping address loneliness and social isolation, with a focus on two distinct populations, older adults and people with mental health challenges.
Factsheets & Information
HABRI has compiled the following handouts summarizing findings from the research consortium:
- Handout on Social Isolation and Loneliness
- Handout on Definitions of Animal Assisted Interventions
- Handout on the Difference between Pet Ownership and AAI
Social Media Toolkit
For shareable social media graphics and more, visit Social Isolation and Companion Animals Summit.
Report
To read the full report by the Consortium on Social Isolation and Companion Animals, please see here:
Older Adults and Animal Programming: A Handbook for Senior Citizens
HABRI and the National Council on Aging’s National Institute of Senior Centers (NCOA/NISC) collaborated to explore animal programs in senior centers and develop guidelines to ensure the human-animal bond is widely accepted throughout America’s senior centers.
Handbook
This research, along with survey data from NISC senior centers, have been compiled into the following handbook.
The Pet Effect Graphics
A section of HABRI’s website is dedicated to The Pet Effect Content, available here. The Pet Effect features shareable and downloadable infographics, posters, fliers, and videos.
Academic Research
For academic research on the human-animal bond, please visit HABRI Central, the most comprehensive online database for human-animal bond research, with more than 30,000 entries including full-texts of peer-reviewed journal articles, books, white papers, videos, datasets and more.
