PAWS in the news: “The Everyday Power of Pets: How Human–Animal Interaction Supports Mental Wellbeing” (Forbes)

With more than half of the world’s population now owning a pet, creating pet friendly environments across businesses and communities are no longer a ‘nice to have’. They reflect how people live and work today, and what they need to benefit from the strength of the human-animal bond.  

This matters more than ever. Forty five percent of people across 31 countries now say mental health is the biggest health concern^[1], and anxiety disorders affect 301 million people globally^[2]. As these pressures grow, people are instinctively reaching for the comfort, stability and routine that pets bring. A YouGov research survey of 30,000 pet owners across 20 markets commissioned by Mars and Calm found that most pet owners feel this intuitively - 83% say their pet has positively impacted their mental wellbeing and 84% say their pet helps them feel relaxed during the day^[3].

The opportunity is clear: if pets play a meaningful role in supporting mental health, businesses, community leaders and policymakers should help make pet ownership – an experience that spans generations, locations and social roles – accessible to all.

Read the full Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mars/2026/03/19/the-everyday-power-of-pets/

^[1] IPSOS, Ipsos Health Service Report 2024: Mental Health seen as the biggest Health issue, 2024 
^[2] World Health Organization, Anxiety Disorders, 2023 
^[3] https://www.mars.com/en-gb/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/paws-over-partners-people-prefer-spend-time-pets-when