When You Adopt a Pet, You’re Not Just Saving Just Saving 1 Life, But 2

Pets and people are better together. In fact, according to a survey by Mars, a pet care leading business, and mental health company Calm, 83 percent of pet parents say their pets have had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing. Over half of the participants said their pets give their lives a sense of purpose. Meanwhile, 12 million dogs and four million cats live in shelters across the globe, just waiting to find a loving home and to make a difference to a prospective pet parent. 

And we think there is no better way to honor the special relationship between pets and their new parents than to celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and World Animal Day (Oct. 4, 2025), this Mars Global Adoption Weekend (Oct. 3-5), as the company is supporting pet adoption worldwide through various activities including financial contributions to shelters, adoption events, volunteer activities, and other awareness-raising events. 

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Pets and mental wellbeing are linked. 

Why do we speak about the bond between humans and pets and mental wellbeing in the same breath? Because it’s impossible to talk about one without the other. 

Spending time with pets has been found to increase levels of oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, collectively known as the “happy hormones” because they promote a sense of wellbeing and contentment. 

Behaviorist and regular Kinship contributor Karen London has written for us about the importance of this chemical bond between pets and their people: “With its reputation as the feel-good hormone, it’s no surprise that oxytocin figures heavily into our relationship with [our pets]. We’ve learned much about its effects on both species, and new research will surely reveal even more about its relevance to the bond we share.” 

And, the benefits work both ways: A 2023 study found that only three months after a shelter animal has been adopted, dogs show increased signs of confidence, while cats show signs of bonding and calm. 

Take a minute to get “calm” with your pet.  

In May, Mars and Calm launched a partnership, the first-ever content collection of mindfulness exercises inspired by the relationship between people and their pets. The meditation and breathing exercises, Sleep Stories, Pet-Inspired Moments of Relaxation, and more allow pet parents to take a much-needed break and reflect on the present.  

After the collection launched, Dr. Tammie King, a specialist in human-animal interaction and a senior research manager at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, told Kinship that our pets are actually great reminders for us to live in the moment.  

“Pets often nudge us toward better wellbeing without us even realizing it,” she says. “This could be your cat walking across your keyboard when you’re working too long or your dog sitting close to you to encourage you to pet them. She adds that “these little behaviors might seem disruptive at first,” but they “pull us out of what we’re doing and bring us into the present.” 

As we acknowledge Mars Global Adoption Weekend, let’s all take a few deep breaths and celebrate the fact that we are so lucky to have this mutually impactful bond with our pets.