Franklin, Tennessee, Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
Pets and friendship go hand in hand. At the time 24% of people aged 15 and older reported feeling very or somewhat lonely1, building and nurturing deep connections with friends, family—and yes, especially our four legs—is more powerful than ever. Whether we’re greeted with enthusiastic tail wagging or happy purring after a long day, we’re never alone as long as we have pets.
Pets offer support in the most difficult times and unite us, regardless of our differences. New insights from the Mars report, “Pets Connect Us,” found the positive impact of pets on individuals and their communities.
The report, based on a survey of pet parents and a survey of the general population in both the US and Canada2, shows how pets open the door to human connection. From combating loneliness to building a sense of community, animals and the unconditional love we have for them are universal. In fact, 73% of pet parents have connected with someone from a different generation, culture or racial/ethnic background through mutual love of their pets. About nine in 10 adults say pets act as conversation starters, while 83% experience acts of support from those around them, including offers to help feeding or walking.
While these insights inspire us to continue building A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™, we know there’s more work to be done. For real change that affects people and pets, we need to put the animals in need first. According to The State of Pet Homelessness Project, a global data initiative by Mars and leading animal welfare experts, 20% of cats and dogs in the United States are homeless. Considering making our pets we feel at home, it is our responsibility to return the favor and offer these sweet animals the love and safety they deserve.
Today, there is a great opportunity to use the power of pets and their ability to bring everyone together. By finding ways to get more pets into loving homes—and building pet-friendly communities in the process—we can build unbreakable bonds that will last for years to come. .
1 https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/512618/almost-quarter-world-feels-lonely.aspx
2 KRC Research conducted online surveys of 1,000 pet parents each from the US and Canada from October 30 – November 6, 2023.
3 KRC Research conducted online surveys of 1,000 adults each from the US and Canada. The study was conducted from December 15 – 17, 2023, in the US and December 15 – 21, 2023, in Canada.
