Being a pet owner to a companion animal is far from a one-way street. While many of us imagine that as the humans in the relationship we set the tone, new research by PD Insurance, supported by charity partner Healthy Pets New Zealand, suggests otherwise.
In fact, says PD Insurance COO Michelle Le Long, it’s fair to say pets shape our world as much as we do theirs, influencing everything from daily routines to major life choices - including, to her surprise, better life choices.
“For many, our pets really are at the centre of our universes,” she smiles. “According to numerous survey participants, pets bring purpose, vitality, and meaning to their lives, a sentiment I share. They love us unconditionally, and they influence not only how we see the world but also how we carry out many key decisions.”
The PD Insurance Human-Pet Bond Survey was conducted in November 2025 and polled more than 1,800 pet people, including but not restricted to PD Insurance policyholders.
Life hits differently with pets…
Findings that catch Le Long’s eye include evidence demonstrating that concern for our pets directly influences major life decisions. “Some 29% are reluctant (or unlikely) to change a work-from-home situation because of their pet. More than half (50.8%) feel the same about holidaying without their pups and kitties (and other pets) in tow, and 18.9% say the same about moving house. Another 16.1% are unlikely to get a new flatmate, and here’s the real stunner, 8.3% are less likely to have a baby because of their pets.”
One respondent made clear just how important their pet is to every aspect of their life. When asked which of the following they would be unlikely to do because of their pet, they selected: changing from a work-from-home career to an office-based role, going on holiday without their pet, or having a baby.
Le Long says these findings are telling as they are some of life’s biggest decisions, with a substantial proportion of those polled deferring to their pups. No surprise then, Le Long adds, “that when we asked how people think of their pet, 68.6% said ‘As a member of my family’. If that seems a bit low, a further 20.2% said their pet is the equivalent of a child or baby in the family.
Just how central pets are to daily life is clear in a comment from one respondent: “Someone to get out of bed for. Someone to go home to and someone to go out of the house for.”
And leisure does too…
If life decisions change when doggies and kitties are involved, so too does leisure time. A majority of those polled demonstrate their willingness to let personal time revolve around their pets, with 31% estimating spending more than four hours a day together, and 30.9% putting the number between two and four hours daily. A further 25.8% spend between one and two hours with their pets.
“That’s a clear vote for quality time,” laughs Le Long, adding that she spends at least three to four hours a day with her bulldog, Buster.
Even (or especially, for those in the know) holiday plans tend to closely involve the pets. Most want their pets along for the ride and stay (30.2%), and 18.4% will billet the pups and cats with family. Kennels remain a good option for 16.6%.
Better life choices with the pet panacea
The research results that blew Le Long and her team away are the extent to which pets help us make better decisions about our physical and mental health. “We didn’t really see that one coming,” she smiles, “but pets don’t just give us the psychological boost they’re already renowned for. They also support better eating, reduced alcohol intake, a healthier relationship with our devices, and can even help give up habits like smoking.”
That’s clear from 13.8% of respondents who said their pet had helped improve their diet. Another 8.9% reduced their alcohol intake, and 3.3% quit or reduced smoking. Device addiction is a real problem (for all ages!), and pets are credited by 36.3% as contributing to reduced screen time. And finally, 7.6% prioritised regular health checks thanks to their pup or kitties.
One respondent said, “We walk daily, we make sure they eat clean food and that does trickle into how we cook for ourselves. Everything has a routine and is on time.”
While Le Long is reluctant to say the evidence is overwhelming for pets as a cure-all, she quips that there are definite signs of a considerable range of health and wellness advantages. “All in all, this survey has been fun and illuminating. Probably more than anything, it shows we love our pets just as much as they love us, and they look after us just as well as we look after them.”
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