Bonded but not booked. Even devoted owners miss vet visits

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute’s 2026 Benchmark Survey findings show strong public support for a more pet-inclusive approach across all facets of society, driven by the many benefits the human-animal bond brings to our lives. Its 20-minute online survey was completed between June 25 and July 7, 2026, by 3,000 U.S. respondents who are 18 years of age or older. The references linked here also include summaries from 2021 and 2016 HABRI surveys.

The survey’s comparative results show that pet owners who are highly bonded are more likely to:

• Have a veterinarian (94 versus 86 percent)
• Engage in preventive veterinary care such as vaccinations (84 versus 77 percent)
• Visit the vet regularly for routine check-ups and preventive care (61 versus 37 percent)
• Say money is no object when it comes to their pet’s care (50 versus 17 percent)
• More than half would also be more likely to engage with pro-pet doctors and veterinarians

 Considerations

While the current survey responses are positive compared to previous studies, let’s consider the highly bonded results from the perspective of declining vet visits <Link>.

• 94 percent ⁽¹⁾ have a vet, but only 61 percent ⁽³⁾ visit the vet regularly.
• Of the 61 percent ⁽³⁾, only 84 percent ⁽²⁾ engage in preventive care.
• Which leaves 40.5 percent of the highly bonded owners missing preventative care.
• Then only 50 percent ⁽⁴⁾ (of the 84 percent) say money is no object.

Using the numbers above and some napkin math, calculating the missing pet numbers in declining order and starting with 1,000 highly bonded pets and their owners: 940 owners have a vet but only 573 engage in preventive care. Of them, 16 percent do not get preventive care leaving 405 pets with questionable preventive care with  as many as 200 owners who have issues paying for the services.

Optimistically, 52 percent of 1,000 highly bonded pet owners are excellent veterinary clients.

Sources:

• Health benefits of pet ownership are widely felt, recognized, DVM 360. Link.
• HABRI; rise in pet ownership connected to research-backed health benefits. Link.
• 2026 Benchmark Survey of Americans, HABRI. Link.

Future pet owners point to these barriers to ownership:

• Housing that prohibits or restricts pets as a significant structural barrier.
• Overall cost of pet ownership (37 percent).
• The emotional toll of leaving their pets for an extended period of time.
• Balancing pet care with work and other responsibilities.

Current pet owners who intend to add another pet in the future expressed a much stronger interest in cat acquisition while future pet owners offered a strong outlook for dog ownership.”

INSIGHTS: Since pets are increasingly considered family members, it would be interesting to learn if pet owner attitudes about their own doctors and health care are being projected onto their pets.