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A 2026 survey commissioned by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that 98% of U.S. pet owners surveyed reported at least one health benefit from pet ownership. The self-reported results also show broad awareness of research-backed benefits, while cost and rental restrictions remain barriers for prospective owners.
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute’s 2026 survey of U.S. adults found that 98% of pet owners surveyed said they had experienced at least one health benefit from pet ownership, while 97% of Americans surveyed recognized at least one research-backed benefit. The results offer a snapshot of public attitudes toward the human-animal bond, but are based on self-reports and do not establish that pets caused the health outcomes respondents described.
HABRI’s Human-Animal Bond Benchmark Survey found respondents recognized an average of 18 health benefits, up from 12 in the organization’s 2021 survey. The most widely recognized benefits were easing loneliness, cited by 92% of respondents; reducing depression, 89%; reducing stress, 88%; and helping people cope with difficult life situations, 87%.
Pet owners also said knowledge of research on the human-animal bond influenced how they care for their animals. 94% said it made them more likely to spend time with their pets, and 91% said it encouraged them to maintain their animals’ health, including through regular veterinary checkups. These are reported intentions, not a measure of whether owners changed their behavior.
The survey also found an association between reported bond strength and some preventive-care measures. Among owners reporting the strongest bonds, 94% said they had a veterinarian, compared with 86% of other owners; 84% said their pets’ vaccinations were current, compared with 77%. The figures show a difference between groups, but the survey does not establish that a stronger bond caused more preventive care.
Pet Care and Access Barriers
The findings connect public perceptions of pet-related wellbeing with practical decisions about animal care. Respondents’ reports that research knowledge can encourage time with pets and attention to their health may interest veterinarians, animal-welfare groups and policymakers seeking to support responsible ownership. The survey does not test whether providing information alone leads to better care or health outcomes.
Access is another part of the picture. Among people considering pet ownership, 37% cited the overall cost as a concern and 29% worried about finding pet-friendly housing. HABRI also reported that 74% of Americans currently own at least one pet, while another 15% intend to acquire one. These findings suggest that the ability to take on an animal may depend partly on affordability and housing options, not just interest in pets.
Support for pet-inclusive policies was widespread in the survey: 83% favored pet-friendly public spaces, and 80% supported fewer restrictions on pets in rental housing. Those responses indicate public support, but do not show how any particular policy would affect housing supply, costs or animal welfare.
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A Comparison With the 2021 Survey
HABRI describes the 2026 survey as a benchmark of Americans’ awareness, attitudes and experiences related to the human-animal bond. The reported average number of recognized benefits rose from 12 in 2021 to 18 in 2026. The source does not provide the survey field dates, detailed methodology or a breakdown of how awareness changed for each benefit over that period.
The survey was conducted online with a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 18 and older, according to the report published by Veterinary Practice News. Its measures include reported ownership, perceptions and experiences. Such responses can document what people say they believe or have experienced, but they cannot by themselves establish medical effects or explain why respondents’ answers differ.
“The average respondent recognized 18 health benefits, up from 12 in HABRI’s 2021 survey.”
— Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), survey findings
What Self-Reports Cannot Establish
The figures describe respondents’ answers and associations, not proof that pet ownership causes particular health benefits. The survey does not establish whether reported improvements resulted from having a pet, from other circumstances, or from a combination of factors. Nor does the reported association between bond strength and preventive care show which factor, if any, drives the other.
The source material does not give the number of people surveyed, response rate, survey field dates, question wording or detailed weighting procedures. It also does not break out results by age, income, location or type of pet. Those details would help readers judge how the findings apply to different groups. The survey’s reported figures should be read as a snapshot of U.S. adults’ stated awareness and experiences, not as medical evidence about outcomes for all pet owners.
Further Survey Details to Watch
HABRI’s findings provide a benchmark for public awareness and attitudes, but the source report does not announce a follow-up study or policy change. Readers seeking more detail can consult HABRI’s survey materials, which may provide methodology, question wording and breakdowns beyond those summarized by Veterinary Practice News.
For now, the results identify areas for further attention: reported links between the human-animal bond and preventive care, and the cost and housing concerns prospective owners described. Any conclusions about health effects or the impact of pet-inclusive policies would require evidence beyond these self-reported survey results.
Key Questions
What did the 2026 HABRI survey find about pet owners’ health experiences?
98% of pet owners surveyed reported experiencing at least one health benefit from pet ownership. The result reflects respondents’ reports and does not establish that owning a pet caused a health change.
Which benefits did respondents recognize most often?
Respondents most often recognized easing loneliness, at 92%, followed by reducing depression at 89%, reducing stress at 88% and helping people cope with difficult situations at 87%.
Did the survey prove that pets improve health?
No. The survey gathered self-reported experiences and awareness. Its findings describe perceptions and associations; they do not establish a causal relationship between pet ownership and health outcomes.
What barriers to pet ownership did prospective owners report?
37% cited the overall cost of pet ownership as a concern, while 29% worried about finding pet-friendly housing, according to HABRI’s survey findings.
How did respondents view pet-friendly policies?
HABRI reported that 83% supported pet-friendly public spaces and 80% favored fewer restrictions on pets in rental housing. The survey records support for these policies, not their effects.
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