BRUSSELS — To fully understand the benefits of the human-animal bond, Mars, Incorporated launched its new Pets and Wellbeing Study (PAWS) program. According to Mars, PAWS will represent the largest, multi-year research program exploring the impact dogs and cats have on human mental health and wellbeing. 

The new program will be led by Mars’ Waltham Petcare Science Institute and will include partnerships with leading academic institutions and experts, engaging more than 35,000 people throughout more than 20 countries in its initial phase. PAWS will seek to understand the deep connection between pets and human mental health, including stress, anxiety and loneliness, and overall wellbeing. The study aims to provide deeper insights and scientific data regarding the mutual benefits of the human-animal bond, how pets enrich human lives and how the bond benefits pets themselves. 

“As a pet owner, I know firsthand the joy and comfort pets bring to our lives and there is increasing evidence that owning a pet or simply interacting with one can bring benefits to people of all ages and from all walks of life,” shared Loïc Moutault, president of Mars Petcare. “We’re aiming to deliver on our Purpose: A Better World for Pets, because we believe pets make our lives better, and through this study program we aim to provide deeper, science-backed understanding of the mutual bond between people and pets.”

According to Ipsos’ Health Service Report 2024, mental health has become a vital priority for consumers with 45% of people across 31 countries reporting mental health as their top health concern. Continued research has shown that pets have a positive impact on mental health, demonstrating the powerful potential of the human-animal bond, according to Mars. 

Source: Mars Incorporated

Over the program, Mars will collaborate with academic institutions and research partners Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, University of Maryland School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liverpool, University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, YouGov and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. 

“Both the breadth and depth of this study program promise to deliver novel data and greater insight into something many people instinctively feel — that the bond between pet and pet owner is a powerful and unique part of the human experience,” said Maggie O’Haire, Ph.D., associate dean for research at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine. “We are proud to continue to collaborate with Mars and its world-leading research institute as it embarks on this transformative work.”

Additionally, Mars will also partner with mental health company Calm. This partnership will incorporate Calm’s expertise in mental wellness with Mars’ research on the human-animal bond, fostering additional research and content through 2025. 

“Pets are daily sources of calm, joy and connection,” detailed Chris Mosunic, Ph.D., chief clinical officer of Calm. “Through our partnership with Mars, we aim to understand these relationships better and illuminate the unique role pets play in mental health and wellbeing, supported by new in-app resources.”

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