Virtual Pet Week on Capitol Hill Celebrates Pets during Pandemic

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) announced today that it will host virtual Pet Week on Capitol Hill the week of October 18th, a free-to-attend series of virtual programs dedicated to sharing information about the importance of pet ownership in America and the scientific evidence that shows how the human-animal bond is essential to public health. The pandemic has reinforced the role of pets as important sources of social and emotional support for a growing majority of American households, which has climbed to 70 percent according to the latest National Pet Owners Survey commissioned by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). “Pets are more important in American life than ever before,” said Steven Feldman, President of HABRI. “This year’s Pet Week will feature engaging sessions about lifesaving pet-friendly policies, key veterinary issues and legislation, statistics on pet populations, data on the economic impact of pet care businesses, and more.” Pet Week on Capitol Hill will conclude with the unveiling of the winners of the thirteenth annual Cutest Pets on Capitol Hill contest, hosted by the Animal Health Institute. The full Pet Week schedule is listed below (All Times Eastern): Monday, October 18th, 2021 12:00pm-12:30pm The Importance of Pets and the Human-Animal Bond Steven Feldman, President, HABRI 4:00pm-4:30pm Data on Pet Sheltering Before, During and After the Pandemic Susanne Kogut, President, Petco Love Tuesday, October 19th, 2021 12:00pm-12:30pm Pet Ownership Data & Economic Outlook Steve King, CEO, American Pet Products Association 4:00pm-4:30pm The State of Homeless Companion Animals in the United States Dr. Jo Gale, Veterinarian, Senior Manager Global Science Advocacy, Corporate Affairs, Mars Petcare Wednesday, October 20th, 2021 12:00pm-12:30pm The Importance of Pet-Inclusive Rental Housing in the United States Dr. Gary Michelson, Inventor and Philanthropist, Michelson Found Animals Foundation Steven...

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) announced today it has awarded a new research grant, titled “Sharing is caring: can pets protect their owners against antibiotic-associated disruption of the gut microbiome?”, to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) to investigate whether pets are a source of microbiota that can help restore deficiencies in their owner’s gut microbiome. “A growing number of studies have documented the ability of animal contact to impact the human microbiome (collection of microbes in the intestines) in ways that may help prevent certain types of disease, such as cardiovascular disease and asthma,” said Dr. Laurel Redding, VMD, PhD, DACVPM, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Penn Vet, the project’s Principal Investigator. “In conducting this study, our goal is to shed light on the microbial exchanges that occur between pets and pet owners and assess whether pets can mitigate disruption of their owner’s gut microbiome following antibiotic therapy.” This groundbreaking project will follow pet owners over 60 years old who are taking antibiotics for dental implant placement. Antibiotics disrupt the native gut microbiome, which can result in a range of outcomes, from mild diarrhea to severe “C. diff” infection (infection with Clostridioides difficile), and the elderly are particularly at risk for some of these adverse outcomes. Recovery from this type of disruption is not well understood, and factors that promote this recovery are only beginning to be explored. Researchers hypothesize that the gut microbiomes of pet owners and their pets will resemble each other prior to the course of antibiotics, diverge during the disruption phase, then steadily converge during the recovery phase. In demonstrating that animal contact can yield beneficial effects on the restoration of the human gut microbiome, results of this study may reduce concerns about and even promote contact with household...

Mars Petcare and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) today gathered leaders in public health, research, psychology, gerontology, and veterinary medicine to advance scientific research, best practices, and practical solutions to facilitate the role of companion animals and human-animal interaction (HAI) in addressing the public health crisis of social isolation and loneliness in society. Health experts have described loneliness as reaching epidemic levels – affecting people of all generations from all walks of life.[i] And most importantly, social isolation has been shown to be as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, making it a serious threat to public health.[ii] There is widespread agreement among both pet owners and non-owners that companion animals can play a role in addressing the societal challenge of loneliness and social isolation.[iii] Results from nationally-representative market research reinforce the social bond between humans and pets. Specifically, 80 percent of pet owners say their pet makes them feel less lonely. When it comes to both pet owners and non-pet-owners, 85 percent of respondents believe interaction with a companion animal can help reduce loneliness and 76 percent agree human-animal interactions can help address social isolation. Further, pet owners with the closest bond to their pet see the highest positive impact on their feelings of loneliness and social isolation.[iv] The market research also showed:[iii] Around one in four (26 percent) pet owners stated they got a pet because they know it is good for mental health – with respondents aged 55+ doing so more frequently (55 percent). 54 percent of respondents say their pet helps them connect with other people. Half of respondents (51 percent) say their pet helps them feel less shy. 9 in 10 people aged 55+ believe pets can help older adults feel less lonely. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of those surveyed believe nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have...