A new handbook launched in the European Parliament urges the EU to support pet-friendly policies recognising the human-animal bond as a key part of public health and social policy.
From housing reform to veterinary access, experts call for the human-animal bond to be treated as a serious public policy priority across Europe.
The Human-Animal Bond Handbook, launched in the European Parliament on 25 March, outlines global best practices and urges policy reform, guided by the One Health, One Welfare principle linking human, animal and environmental well-being.
Co-authored by Zoetis in partnership with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA), and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), the Handbook brings together real-world examples to help policymakers build more pet-inclusive societies.
“The Handbook is a platform to drive the conversation forward, share best practices, and inspire collaboration across sectors,” said Jeanette Ferran Astorga, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zoetis.
The aim, they say, is clear – dismantle the barriers that prevent people and animals from thriving together.
“There really is an urgency about amplifying but also protecting and fostering this companionship,” Astorga added.
Turning policy into action
The Handbook builds on a 2024 report showing how pets support both physical and mental health, from reducing childhood anxiety to promoting healthy ageing.
Jamie Brannan, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Zoetis, stressed the need to turn that science into policy.
“If we want to develop policy, science is important,” he said. “That science gives us the foundation to build a stronger world, one where sustainable animal care, responsible pet ownership and inclusive policies reinforce each other.”
He noted that “Fifty per cent of households have a pet, and 97% of those pet owners (…) see them as part of the family.”
MEP Barry Cowen echoed the call. “Pets are more than companions, they are a source of stability and emotional well-being,” he said.
He urged lawmakers to address “restrictive housing policies, limited access to veterinary care, and workplace regulations,” warning that “far too many people face unnecessary restrictions when it comes to pet ownership.”
Removing barriers: housing
At the top of the Handbook’s policy agenda is housing. Seventy-two per cent of rental housing residents find it difficult to secure pet-friendly accommodation, despite 93% of landlords acknowledging pets as part of the family.
Astorga pointed to successful policies. In Flanders, Belgium, tenants were granted the automatic right to keep pets in 2018, reinforced in 2024 with a ban on “no-pet” clauses in rental contracts.
In California, publicly financed housing developments must allow pets, improving access for low-income and elderly residents.
Expanding access to veterinary care
The Handbook also highlights barriers to veterinary services, particularly for low-income families, elderly pet owners, and those in rural areas.
To address this, it calls for policies such as reducing VAT on veterinary care, expanding
pet insurance and supporting telemedicine.
Astorga cited the upcoming Paris insurance pilot as a model, while Japan’s use of tele-vet services in rural regions shows how technology can close gaps in care.
These examples illustrate that access to care is not an optional extra, it’s central to sustaining the human-animal bond. But affordability is only part of the picture.
The veterinary profession itself is under growing pressure, requiring structural reform.
New vision for veterinary policy
That pressure is felt daily in clinics across Europe. Ann Criel, Vice-President of FECAVA, shared a frontline perspective from more than 35 years in practice.
“Owners want the same level of medical care for their pets that they are used to getting in human care,” she said. “But the stress on our profession is getting higher and higher.”
She described the field’s advances. “We now have CT scans, we can treat oncology patients, we can replace every joint” but warned of new dilemmas. “This has boundaries, not only medical but also financial. And the financial is a big one.”
Criel also called for early intervention through education and responsible pet ownership. “The first step we should need for the future is that people come to the vet before they buy a pet.”
She added, “We as vets are supposed to take care of the humans and also the animals (…) In every decision policymakers make about the animal-human bond, veterinarians should be involved and should really be on the spot.”
Turning point for EU policy
A key moment in the Parliament event was the discussion around the European Commission’s upcoming regulation on the welfare of cats and dogs, expected later this year.
The proposal would introduce minimum EU-wide standards for the keeping, breeding, and trading of companion animals, including traceability, housing, and online sales.
Dr Paolo Dalla Villa, Animal Welfare Expert, from the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), welcomed the regulation.
“Taking this legislation will really do a lot of good… for responsible pet ownership, animal welfare and traceability.”
He highlighted the role of electronic ID systems in outbreak control and emergency planning. “We can tell you where a certain animal is in real-time and when it moves in real-time.”
But he cautioned that “legislation as such is not sufficient to convince people how to behave. Real change he argued, depends on culture: “How much have we been investing in educating new generations and talking to kids at school? That is what will change attitudes.”
Criel agreed: “We really have to make these regulations in force because they are really good work, and we really need them for the future.”
Speakers also pointed to broader opportunities, including electronic prescriptions for animals, pet accreditation systems, and better data integration.
