MetLife Pet Joins with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute to Champion the Human-Animal Bond

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is proud to announce an insightful panel discussion, “The Last Goodbye: The Impact of the Human-Animal Bond on End-of-Life Care Experiences and Outcomes” happening at VMX this Tuesday, January 28th, made possible through its educational partnership with IDEXX. Featuring leading experts in euthanasia, end-of-life care and veterinary oncology, the session will focus on the importance of protecting and preserving the human-animal bond during the end of a pet’s life, and ways veterinary teams can support better outcomes related to end-of-life decision-making. The panel, comprising Dr. Kathleen Cooney, Senior Director of Medical Education of the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA); Dr. Dani McVety-Leinen, Founder & former CEO of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice; and Dr. Dana Connell, veterinary oncologist and Global Medical Affairs Specialist at IDEXX, will highlight how the human-animal bond can significantly influence the emotional and psychological aspects of euthanasia. These distinguished panelists bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion and will offer practical advice for veterinary professionals on how best to approach the subject of end-of-life in a way that is proactive and respectful of the human-animal bond. “HABRI is proud to advance understanding and awareness of the role of the human-animal bond in veterinary medicine, including for end-of-life care,” said Steve Feldman, president of HABRI. “By bringing together experts in the field, we aim to equip veterinary professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to better serve pet owners and their beloved companions.” The panel will be held on Tuesday, January 28th from 10:50am – 11:40am in the Orange County Convention Center South, Room S210B. Those in attendance will be eligible for one hour of CE credit. For more information and to add this panel to your schedule, please visit https://connect.navc.com/event/vmx-2025-2/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMjQ3MTgyMA==

Mars Petcare and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), with support from a broad consortium of partners, today released a report that offers a roadmap for advancing research and best practices that address how human-animal interaction can serve as an important solution to the growing epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. “There is increasing evidence that pets can play an important role in helping people feel less lonely and more socially connected,” said Steven Feldman, Executive Director, HABRI. “Together with the leadership of Mars Petcare and a group of other experts and stakeholders, HABRI will work to address the crisis of loneliness in our society with the power of the human-animal bond.” Loneliness currently affects three in five Americans[i] and 9 million people in the United Kingdom.[ii] Loneliness can be as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, making it a serious threat to public health.[iii] Mars Petcare and HABRI surveyed 2,000 people in the United States, finding that 85 percent of respondents believe interaction with companion animals can help reduce loneliness.[iv] “We have a responsibility to take the scientific exploration further when evidence to date shows us that pets can be part of addressing such a significant societal issue,” commented Rena Crumplen, Global Vice President of Research and Development, Mars Petcare. “It’s important that we undertake rigorous studies to understand how companion animals may provide  a benefit for those suffering from conditions associated with social isolation and loneliness.” The new report, Addressing the Social Isolation and Loneliness Epidemic with the Power of Companion Animals, brings forward the recommendations from the Summit on Social Isolation and Companion Animals, along with the continued work of a broad consortium of human health advocates, mental health practitioners, veterinarians and human-animal interaction researchers. The report outlines the following three-pronged...

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) announced today it has awarded a grant to GITAM (Deemed) University for a new study which will investigate the impact of pet ownership and human-animal interaction (HAI) on overall social functioning including social attention in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study aims to fill a critical gap in the current literature by uncovering the potential benefits of HAI on core deficit areas in ADHD. “This project brings together an international team of experts to undertake a comprehensive examination of social attention and emotion processing in neurotypical children and children living with ADHD,” said Dr. Georgitta Valiyamattam, GITAM University, the study’s Principal Investigator. “We hope to answer a key question – do foundational social skills in ADHD have the potential to be impacted by animal-assisted interventions? This knowledge will provide the necessary groundwork for future research and practice, which we hope will improve treatment and quality of life for children living with ADHD.” Along with Dr. Valiyamattam, the team comprises Dr. Harish Katti, Dr. Jessica Taubert, Dr. Vinay Chaganti and Dr. Virender Sachdeva. A substantial body of research describes social attention and emotional recognition deficits to human faces in ADHD. This project will study the impact of pet ownership on children with ADHD to determine whether HAI may enhance social attention and emotional recognition and modulate overall social functioning. State-of-the-art eye tracking technology and rigorous statistical approaches will be deployed to compare attention towards human and nonhuman faces. Researchers will also investigate the recognition of facial expressions. The research team anticipates that children with ADHD will show greater attention and emotion recognition capabilities for animal faces as compared to human faces. The focus on uncovering the visual mechanisms regarding HAI may also...