TL;DR
A 2026 survey commissioned by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that 98% of surveyed U.S. pet owners reported at least one health benefit from pet ownership, while 97% of Americans recognized at least one research-backed benefit. The survey also found links between stronger reported bonds and preventive veterinary care, but its self-reported results do not establish that pets cause health improvements.
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute’s 2026 survey of U.S. adults found that 98% of pet owners reported experiencing at least one health benefit from having a pet, while 97% of Americans said they were aware of at least one research-backed benefit. The findings offer a new measure of public attitudes toward the human-animal bond, while also documenting cost and housing concerns among people considering pet ownership.
The most commonly recognized benefits were easing loneliness (92%), reducing depression (89%), reducing stress (88%) and helping people cope with difficult life situations (87%). Respondents recognized an average of 18 health benefits, compared with 12 in HABRI’s 2021 survey. The report describes awareness of benefits, not clinical outcomes measured by the survey.
Among pet owners, 94% said knowledge of research on the human-animal bond made them more likely to spend time with their animals. Another 91% said that knowledge encouraged them to maintain their pets’ health, including keeping up with veterinary checkups. These are respondents’ reported intentions and experiences, rather than evidence that awareness directly changes care behavior.
The survey also found an association between stronger reported bonds and some preventive-care measures. Owners reporting the strongest bonds were more likely to say they had a veterinarian for their pet: 94% compared with 86% among those not reporting the strongest bond. They were also more likely to report current vaccinations, at 84% versus 77%. The report does not establish that bond strength caused these differences.
Pet Care and Ownership Barriers
The results connect public understanding of the human-animal bond with questions about responsible pet care. Many owners told researchers that knowledge about the bond encouraged time with their animals and attention to their health. The reported association with veterinary access and vaccination also points to a practical concern: keeping animals healthy depends not only on owners’ intentions, but on access to care and the resources to provide it.
For people considering a pet, the survey identifies financial and housing constraints as common concerns. Among prospective owners, 37% cited the overall cost of ownership and 29% worried about finding pet-friendly housing. Those barriers matter to communities and housing providers weighing pet policies, as well as to prospective owners planning for food, veterinary care and other ongoing responsibilities. The survey records opinions and concerns; it does not measure how policy changes would affect adoption or animal welfare.
Support for more pet-inclusive rules was widespread among respondents: 83% favored pet-friendly public spaces, and 80% supported fewer restrictions on pets in rental housing. Those figures indicate public support in this survey, not a change in laws or rental policies.
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How Awareness Changed Since 2021
HABRI said the survey is intended as a benchmark of awareness, attitudes and experiences related to the human-animal bond. Its comparison with the organization’s 2021 survey shows that respondents recognized an average of 18 health benefits in 2026, up from 12 previously. The reported figures describe recognition of benefits; they do not show that all respondents had personally experienced each one.
The report says 74% of Americans currently own at least one pet, while another 15% intend to acquire one. The 2026 survey used an online, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 18 and older, according to the published account in Veterinary Practice News. The figures therefore reflect adult respondents’ self-reports about ownership, awareness and attitudes.
That distinction is relevant when interpreting health claims. Respondents may report benefits such as less loneliness or stress, but a survey of perceptions and experiences cannot by itself establish that pet ownership caused those outcomes. The source material does not provide details such as the survey’s field dates, sample size, question wording or margin of error.
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Limits of the Survey Findings
The reported results are self-reported perceptions and associations, not a clinical test of whether pet ownership improves health. The survey cannot establish that owning an animal caused respondents to feel less lonely, depressed or stressed. Likewise, the relationship between stronger bonds and preventive care does not show which factor came first or whether other circumstances explain the difference.
The available report does not state the survey’s sample size, field dates, response rate or margin of error, nor does it provide detailed methods for how the online sample was selected and weighted. Those details would help readers assess the precision of the percentages and how they compare with the 2021 survey. The source material also does not explain how respondents defined a health benefit or a strong bond.
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Further Survey Details and Pet Access
HABRI directs readers to its website for more information about the findings. Further methodological details there could clarify the survey’s timing, sample and comparisons with the 2021 benchmark. The published report does not announce a specific next survey or policy action.
For now, the results provide a snapshot of reported attitudes: high awareness of potential benefits sits alongside concerns about the cost and availability of pet-friendly housing. Whether that awareness translates into lasting changes in veterinary care, ownership rates or housing rules remains unestablished by these survey figures.
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Key Questions
What did the 2026 HABRI survey find about pet owners?
98% of pet owners surveyed reported experiencing at least one health benefit from pet ownership. This is a self-reported finding, not a clinical measure of health outcomes.
Which benefits were most widely recognized?
Respondents most commonly recognized easing loneliness (92%), reducing depression (89%), reducing stress (88%) and helping people cope with difficult life situations (87%).
Does the survey prove pets improve health?
No. The report describes self-reported experiences and awareness. Its results do not establish that pet ownership causes improvements in health or well-being.
What concerns did prospective pet owners report?
Among prospective owners, 37% cited the overall cost of pet ownership and 29% worried about finding pet-friendly housing.
How many Americans in the survey owned pets?
HABRI reported that 74% of Americans currently owned at least one pet, while another 15% said they intended to acquire one.
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