Source: International Pet Food
Mars, Inc. has launched the Pets and Wellbeing Study (PAWS), the largest global research program on the human-animal bond and its impact on mental health. The multi-year study will involve over 35,000 participants in 20+ countries, examining how cats and dogs influence stress, anxiety, loneliness, and overall wellbeing.
Led by Mars’ Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the study collaborates with Tufts University, University of Maryland, and the University of Arizona. Mars Petcare President Loïc Moutault emphasized the study’s goal of providing science-backed insights into the benefits of pet ownership. Mars has also partnered with Calm, a mental health company, to further explore the role of pets in emotional wellbeing through research and content development in 2025. The study comes amid rising global mental health concerns, with 45% of people across 31 countries ranking mental health as their top concern.