A University of Liverpool research team will examine how adopting a small mammal, including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice, affects the owner’s well-being.
“Current research is often focused on dog and cat ownership, and the evidence base regarding health impacts from owning small furry pets is less well developed,” said the study’s principal investigator professor, Dr. Carri Westgarth.
The project received financial support from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute.
The U.K. team will survey people to determine changes in their mental and physical well-being after adopting a small pet. According to HABRI, the researchers will also interview owners to better understand the human-animal bond and the pet adoption process.
“Our research will help uncover the impact of owning small furry pets and the experiences people have adopting them from shelters, which we hope will help shelters guide and support successful small pet adoptions,” Dr. Westgarth said.
In the second phase, researchers will perform a longitudinal cohort study that includes 450 new pet owners who adopted from Woodgreen Pets Charity and other shelters. They will conduct interviews one, three and six months after adoption to track how the human-animal bond develops and to determine changes in the owners’ psychological, social and physical health.
“This new research will shine a much-needed spotlight on the benefits of owning a small pet and the unique bonds people form with them,” said Fiona Cooke, head of specialist services at Woodgreen Pets Charity. “This study will not only improve support for people adopting small pets from charities like Woodgreen but will also aid our work to keep more pets in loving homes.”