HABRI ANNOUNCES 2025 HUMAN ANIMAL BOND INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS

Neighborhood Pets Outreach & Resource Center
Public Service Category

Pawsperity
Public Service Category

Disney+, Imagine Documentaries and Bryce Dallas Howard
Media Category

Visit Knoxville
Pet-Inclusive Culture Category

Calm
Pet-Inclusive Infrastructure Category

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) today announced the winners of its annual Human Animal Bond Innovation Awards, which recognize companies, individuals and organizations with innovative programs and practices designed to advance the human-animal bond and create a more pet-friendly society. The 2025 Human Animal Bond Innovation Award winners are:

Public Service Category: Neighborhood Pets Outreach & Resource Center

Neighborhood Pets is a trusted, community-based organization that supports both pets and their people through affordable veterinary care and human services. Since 2016, they've served nearly 9,000 families and partnered with over 20 local organizations to address broader needs like food access, health care, and housing. Their model strengthens the human-animal bond by recognizing that when people thrive, pets do too.

Public Service Category: Pawsperity

Pawsperity strengthens the human-animal bond by transforming lives through pet grooming—a high-demand, accessible career path for individuals facing poverty and systemic barriers. Founded in 2016, the program combines hands-on grooming training with life skills and wraparound support, helping students build stable, sustainable futures. With a 96% job placement rate and graduates increasing their average income from $10,000 to $47,000, Pawsperity empowers people to care for themselves, their families, and their companion animals.

The Public Service category is sponsored by Zoetis.

Media Category: Disney+, Imagine Documentaries and Bryce Dallas Howard

Disney+ and Bryce Dallas Howard celebrate the human-animal bond in "Pets", a heartfelt and humorous documentary exploring the powerful relationships between people and their animals around the world. Directed by Howard and produced by Imagine Documentaries, the film weaves together personal stories, viral moments, and touching interviews to showcase the emotional depth and everyday joy pets bring to our lives. A passionate animal lover herself, Howard brings authenticity and warmth to this project, capturing the magic of these intuitive, unconditional connections. "Pets" is a joyful tribute to the healing power of the human-animal bond.

Pet-Inclusive Culture Category: Visit Knoxville

Visit Knoxville celebrates the human-animal bond through "Barxville," a charming and comprehensive dog-friendly tourism campaign led by Hank the Golden Retriever. From a Visitors Guide written from Hank's perspective to a dedicated "DOGumentary" and mobile rewards pass, Barxville highlights pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, events, and attractions across the city. With 72 dog-welcoming hotels, 53 pet-friendly restaurants, and annual traditions like Mardi Growl and Howl-o-ween, Knoxville has fully embraced its canine visitors and their people. Visit Knoxville sets a new standard for pet-inclusive travel and community engagement through the lens of the human-animal bond.

The Pet-Inclusive Culture category is sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare.

Pet-Inclusive Infrastructure Category: Calm

Calm, a global leader in mental health, has embraced the human-animal bond by highlighting how pets support mental well-being through the first-ever pet-inspired content collection developed in partnership with Mars: meditations, Sleep Stories, blogs, and social content. In 2025, they partnered to launch the largest-ever international survey of pet owners on human-animal relationships, reaching over 30,000 people across 20 countries. They followed with a new collection of science-backed tools designed to help pet lovers pause, connect, and be present with their animals. With a massive global audience, Calm is putting the human-animal bond at the heart of the mental health conversation.

"PetSmart Charities is honored to once again serve as the Presenting Sponsor of the Human Animal Bond Innovation Awards, recognizing the powerful connection between people and pets," said Aimee Gilbreath, President of PetSmart Charities and Vice Chair of the HABRI Board of Trustees. "This year's award recipients are advancing the human-animal bond through creativity, compassion, and impactful programs that uplift both pets and their people—we're proud to shine a light on their inspiring work."

"HABRI is grateful to Presenting Sponsor: PetSmart Charities; Category Sponsors: Purina and Zoetis; and Supporting Sponsors, the World Pet Association and Tito's Handmade Vodka," said HABRI President Steven Feldman. "These organizations make the Human Animal Bond Innovation Awards possible, allowing us to showcase these outstanding efforts to support and honor the human-animal bond across society."

For more information about these winners and the Human Animal Bond Innovation Awards, please visit www.habri.org/hab-innovation-awards

About HABRI
HABRI is a not-for-profit organization that funds innovative scientific research to document the health benefits of companion animals; educates the public about human-animal bond research; and advocates for the beneficial role of companion animals in society. For more information, please visit http://www.habri.org.

CONTACT: Hayley Maynard
[email protected]
614.701.8205

SOURCE Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)