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HABRI’s 2026 survey found that 98% of U.S. pet owners said they had experienced at least one health benefit from pet ownership, and 97% of Americans recognized at least one research-backed benefit. The survey also found cost and rental housing restrictions are concerns for people considering a pet; its self-reported findings show perceptions and associations, not proof that pets cause health improvements.
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) says its 2026 survey found that 98% of U.S. pet owners reported experiencing at least one health benefit from pet ownership, while 97% of Americans recognized at least one research-backed benefit. The findings offer a new measure of public views on the human-animal bond, while also highlighting cost and housing as obstacles for people who may want a pet.
Respondents recognized an average of 18 health benefits, compared with 12 in HABRI’s 2021 survey. The most widely recognized were easing loneliness, cited by 92% of respondents; reducing depression, 89%; reducing stress, 88%; and helping people cope with difficult situations, 87%. Those figures describe what respondents recognized, rather than measuring clinical outcomes.
The survey also asked pet owners whether learning about research on the human-animal bond affected their reported behavior. 94% said that knowledge 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. HABRI also reported an association between stronger bonds and preventive care: 94% of owners reporting the strongest bonds had a veterinarian, compared with 86% of those reporting less strong bonds. Current vaccinations were reported by 84% of the strongest-bond group and 77% of the comparison group.
For prospective owners, the main concerns identified were the overall cost of pet ownership (37%) and finding pet-friendly housing (29%). HABRI said 74% of Americans currently own at least one pet, while another 15% intend to acquire one. The survey also found support for pet-inclusive policies: 83% favored pet-friendly public spaces, and 80% supported fewer restrictions on pets in rental housing.
Care, Costs and Housing Access
The findings connect public awareness of pets’ reported benefits with practical questions about whether people can keep animals and provide ongoing care. The reported link between stronger owner-pet bonds and veterinary access points to an area for further attention, but it does not show that a close bond causes owners to seek preventive care. Other factors may affect both the strength of a reported bond and access to veterinary services.
Cost and housing concerns matter to prospective owners because pet care involves recurring expenses and a suitable place to live. The survey’s policy results indicate broad support among respondents for pet-friendly public spaces and fewer rental restrictions, but they do not establish how those policies would affect ownership rates or animal welfare. Taken together, the results describe both enthusiasm for pets and limits that may shape responsible ownership.
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A Five-Year Awareness Comparison
HABRI’s 2026 Human-Animal Bond Benchmark Survey of Americans follows an earlier survey conducted in 2021. The average number of benefits respondents recognized rose from 12 to 18 across the two surveys. That comparison suggests increased recognition among respondents, but the source material does not provide details here about changes in survey wording, sampling, or other factors that could affect comparisons.
The 2026 survey used an online, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 18 and older. It asked about awareness, attitudes and personal experiences related to pets. Its results are based on respondents’ self-reports, so they are a snapshot of what people say they experience and believe, rather than a clinical assessment of health outcomes.
Self-Reports Do Not Prove Cause
The survey measures reported experiences, awareness and attitudes. It cannot establish that pet ownership itself caused improvements in health, or that awareness of research caused owners to change their behavior. The reported associations between stronger bonds and preventive care likewise do not explain why the groups differed.
The source material does not give the survey’s field dates, sample size, margin of error, question wording, or detailed methods for weighting the online sample. Those details would help readers evaluate the precision of the percentages and the extent to which the 2026 results can be compared with the 2021 survey. The results also do not specify which health benefits owners reported experiencing, beyond the broader finding that 98% reported at least one.
Further Methods and Policy Detail
HABRI directs readers to its website for more information about the findings. Additional survey documentation—including field dates, sample size, question wording and methodology—would help clarify how the results were collected and how they compare with the 2021 benchmark.
The survey identifies public support for pet-friendly spaces and fewer rental restrictions, alongside concerns about cost and housing. It does not announce a specific policy change or a follow-up study. Whether those preferences lead to new housing rules, public-space policies, or programs to help owners prepare for pet-care costs remains unclear.
Key Questions
What did HABRI’s 2026 survey find about pet owners’ health?
98% of pet owners said they had experienced at least one health benefit from pet ownership. The result is self-reported and does not prove that pets caused a health improvement.
Which benefits did respondents recognize most often?
Respondents most often recognized easing loneliness (92%), reducing depression (89%), reducing stress (88%) and helping people cope with difficult life situations (87%). These are awareness figures, not clinical measurements.
What concerns did prospective pet owners report?
37% cited the overall cost of pet ownership, while 29% were concerned about finding pet-friendly housing.
Does the survey show that pets improve health?
No. The online survey reports respondents’ experiences and beliefs. It can show awareness and associations, but it does not establish a causal relationship between pet ownership and health outcomes.
How common is pet ownership in the survey?
HABRI reported that 74% of Americans currently own at least one pet and another 15% intend to acquire one. The source material does not provide further detail about those responses.
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