Report Underscores Impact of Pets on Sense of Community, Well-Being

WASHINGTON — Nine in 10 pet owners say their pets contribute to their having a stronger sense of community, while 83% of adults say they’ve interacted with people they otherwise would not have due to their pets, according to a new survey.

The study by Mars Pet Nutrition North America aligns with other scientific research that suggests pet ownership contributes to social cohesion within communities, provides opportunities for interactions among neighbors and may even reduce neighborhood crime.

But the company’s fifth annual “Pets Connect Us” report goes beyond that, offering actionable policies and programs that communities can implement to become more pet-friendly, reduce pet homelessness and increase access to veterinary care. 

“Our latest ‘Pets Connect Us’ report shows a very clear picture: the power of pets in bringing people together is stronger than ever,” said Lisa Campbell, senior vice president of corporate affairs, Mars Pet Nutrition North America, in a written statement. 

“With new consumer insights on the increasingly important role pets play in our lives, along with the latest data on the state of pet homelessness across North America, we are better prepared to build on our purpose of creating a better world for pets,” she said.

Among the report’s key findings was that at a time when 24% of people 15-years-old and up report feeling very or fairly lonely, pets not only offer companionship, but also bring people together. 

For instance:

• Eighty-three percent of adults have communicated or interacted with people they otherwise would have not connected with because of their pet.
• Seventy-three percent of pet parents have connected with someone from a different generation, culture or racial/ethnic background through mutual affection for their pets.
• About 80% of pet owners meet neighbors through their pets.
• More than seven in 10 have formed unexpected friendships as a result.

In addition, the study found pets enable connection:

• About nine in 10 adults say that pets act as conversation starters or ice breakers.
• Eighty-seven percent of pet owners have an easier time connecting with someone else if they have a pet.
• Seventy-nine percent of adults say pet owners are kinder and 76% say they are more trustworthy.
• Eighty-eight percent of pet owners are more likely to “swipe right” on a dating app if a pet is featured in the profile picture.
• Nearly 60% of pet parents who are employed talk about their pets often with co-workers.

Finally, the researchers said their findings show pets build community:

• Nine in 10 pet parents agree that pets contribute to a stronger sense of community.
• Eighty-three percent of pet parents enjoy proactive community support for their pets, including offers from neighbors to help with feeding or walking.
• Eighty-eight percent of pet parents want more community spaces that facilitate connections among pet lovers.

Despite the multitude of benefits to pet parenthood, new global data from the State of Pet Homelessness Project, an initiative by Mars and leading welfare animal welfare experts, estimates that 20% of dogs and cats in the U.S. and Canada are living outdoors as strays or waiting in shelters to be adopted.

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