Ipsos Study: 95% of Pet Owners Say Animals Improve Mental Health

A striking 95 percent of dog and cat owners report that their pets play a positive role in their daily mental health, according to an Ipsos study conducted for Santévet. Released on October 10 to coincide with World Mental Health Day, the survey reveals that 97 percent of respondents find their animals soothe, relax, or de-stress them, while 92 percent say their pets protect them from feeling lonely, Aleteia reported.

How Pets Drive Physical Activity and Social Connection

Beyond psychological comfort, pets influence the physical and social routines of their owners. The study found that 76 percent of respondents are pushed to practice regular physical activity because of their animals. About 79 percent of owners say their companion brings them a sense of security or protection.

Social engagement also increases for a majority of pet owners. Sixty-two percent note that having a dog or cat helps them meet other people more easily or make new friends. These figures highlight the expanding role of animals in emotional balance and community life.

The Theological and Historical Place of Animals

This human-animal bond connects to a broader reality regarding humanity and creation. As theologian Isabelle de la Garanderie noted in an interview with Aleteia, creation serves as an œuvre of God. She stated that animals can become a place of wonder, attention, and contemplation, reminding people that they belong to a creation that surpasses them and demands responsibility.

Christian history features numerous saints who maintained close relationships with animals. Saint Francis of Assisi viewed animals as brothers and sisters within the same creation. Saint Gerasimus, a fifth-century Palestinian hermit who died in 475, befriended a lion after pulling a reed from its paw, and the animal reportedly died on his grave. Other figures like Saint Gertrude and Saint Anthony the Great are recognized as guardians of specific animal species.

Biblical References and Dominican Tradition

Animals also appear within biblical texts, such as the Book of Tobit, where a dog accompanies young Tobit and the angel Raphael on their journey to Nineveh. Within the Dominican Order, animals hold symbolic significance stemming from a Latin pun on Domini canes, meaning dogs of the Lord.

Saint Catherine of Siena expanded on this imagery in The Dialogue through the metaphor of the dog of conscience. She explained that conscience warns the soul of the danger of sin just as a guard dog barks at an approaching enemy.