HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND » Oliver Knesl, MSc, BVSc, MRCVS, CSAM

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Zoetis teamed-up to conduct the largest-ever human-animal bond survey, reaching 18,000 dog and cat owners and 1,350 veterinarians across 9 countries and 4 continents. The data provides a detailed understanding of how the human-animal bond is perceived around the world. To more precisely measure the human-animal bond among pet owners, a new scale called the Human Animal Bond Score (HABSCORE) was developed that builds on existing scientifically validated scales. The HABSCORE examines the human-animal bond across four distinct dimensions: attachment, humanization , commitment , and integration . This presentation will provide an in-depth look at the survey findings, which offer strong evidence that pets positively impact their owners’ health. The research also shows how stronger human-animal bonds are connected to clear, measurable increases in veterinary treatment and care for pets around the world. The data also explores the knowledge and training that…