Amazon will officially sponsor the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) in support of its research on the human health benefits of companion animals. Amazon is a supplier of pet products and owns a private-label pet food brand, Wag.

“Amazon’s support for HABRI and human-animal bond research demonstrates its commitment to the values of great pet care and the importance of pets in our lives,” said Steven Feldman, executive director of HABRI. “Amazon helps make it easy for us to care for our pets and, in turn, our pets contribute to our health and wellness.”

Scientific evidence shows a pet’s companionship can have health benefits for humans, such as improving heart health, alleviating depression, increasing well-being, supporting child health and educational development, and contributing to healthy aging. Additionally, pet-friendly workplaces have been found to boost employee attraction, engagement and retention. According to HABRI, employees at pet-friendly workplaces are 52% more likely to report a positive working relationship with their bosses and 53% more likely to report a positive working relationship with co-workers, compared to just 14% and 19% among non-pet-friendly workplaces.

“Science demonstrates that pet-inclusive work environments help boost morale and encourage a culture of healthy collaboration and teamwork,” Feldman added. “Amazon is a leading pet-friendly company, and HABRI looks forward to working together to help more employers become pet-friendly so that more people can experience the benefits of the human-animal bond at home and on the job.”

HABRI is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world’s largest online library of human-animal bond research and information; funds research projects to scientifically document the health benefits of companion animals; and informs the public about the beneficial role of companion animals in society.

Stay up to date on news about the pet food processing industry on our News page.