New Peer Reviewed AHPC Study Examines the Role of Pets in Social Services and Human Health Services

A new Animal Human Policy Center study published in Human-Animal Interactions highlights how pets significantly shape people’s decisions about seeking healthcare and social services — and exposes major gaps in the systems meant to support them.

Researchers from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado surveyed 285 healthcare and social service professionals, including physicians, medical students, social workers, and emergency responders. The goal was to understand how often pet ownership affects client and patient care, and what resources providers need to better respond.

Over 60% of healthcare providers reported that pet ownership regularly influences whether patients seek or delay treatment. More than half said they had patients who refused necessary care at least once a month due to concerns about leaving their pets. Across all groups surveyed, providers agreed that pet ownership complicates decision-making and often creates barriers to care — yet most had received little to no training on how to address these challenges.

Providers expressed strong support for solutions such as temporary pet care programs, resource databases, and standardized protocols to help patients manage pet-related concerns while receiving treatment. Many also emphasized the need to integrate the human–animal bond into medical and social work education.

Key Takeaways:

• Pet-related concerns frequently cause patients to delay, refuse, or leave care early.
• Most providers lack training or resources to address these barriers.
• There is strong support for expanding temporary pet care programs and incorporating pet-related considerations into care planning.
• Recognizing pets as part of patients’ lives is essential for providing more inclusive, person-centered healthcare and social services.

The study underscores the urgent need to align healthcare and social services with the realities of pet ownership, ensuring no one has to choose between caring for themselves and caring for their animals.

Read the full study here: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2025.0036@10.1079/hai.si.companion-2025