The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) issued a new report, "Healthy Pets, Healthy Communities," applying learnings from the HABRI Spring Policy Forum focused on identifying barriers, sharing model practices and advancing policy solutions to better support pet ownership and access to pet care for underserved populations.
"While scientific research shows the benefits of pets for human health, there are still significant barriers that prevent underserved populations from fully experiencing the human-animal bond," said Steven Feldman, HABRI president. "HABRI and its partners convened the Spring Policy Forum to share data and solutions to support pet ownership and care for these communities."
During the Policy Forum, experts across a variety of disciplines, including research, animal welfare, human social services and animal health, shared information highlighting their work to support people and pets. Populations of focus included the unhoused, isolated older adults and those living in marginalized communities. Attendees participated in discussions that aimed to identify actionable steps to support pet-inclusive policies.
The report summarizes and synthesizes the discussions and presentations from the forum, concluding that collaborations between public, non-profit and private entities are essential to advance policies, initiatives and projects that preserve the human-animal bond and create frameworks for equitable access to pet ownership and care.
Key barriers to pet ownership and care
According to the report, these were some of the key barriers to pet ownership and care for today's pet parents:
- Veterinary care is unaffordable. More than half of pet owners have forgone or declined recommended care, with 7 in 10 citing financial reasons.
- Lower-cost alternatives aren't offered. Nearly three-quarters of pet owners who declined care due to cost were not presented with affordable options.
- Pet-friendly housing is scarce and expensive. 72% of renters say it's hard to find, 59% say it's too expensive, and only 8% of "pet-friendly" properties lack breed, weight, or number restrictions.
- Pet owners sacrifice basic needs. 1 in 5 Meals on Wheels clients skip their own meals to feed pets, and nearly a third forgo necessities like medical care or paying bills.
- Access to veterinary care is limited. 45% of Meals on Wheels clients can't access preventive care, and 22% can't get sick or emergency care for their pets.
- Trusted information is hard to find. Low-income households and those with limited access to care are most likely to rely only on non-veterinary sources, with 30% of households earning under $36,000 consulting only these resources.
"We are grateful to the sponsors and partners who supported the HABRI Spring Policy Forum and the creation of this report. It is our hope that this document will provide both inspiration and practical guidance to those working to create a more equitable and pet-inclusive future," added Feldman.
The report is made possible by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the World Pet Association (WPA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Petco Love, PetSmart Charities, Wallis Annenberg PetSpace and Zoetis.
