Measuring the scale of pet homelessness is a complex task.
Measuring the scale of pet homelessness is a complex task.
To address this challenge, Mars partnered with leading animal welfare experts and organizations to launch the State of Pet Homelessness Project, a global data initiative.
Measuring the scale of pet homelessness is a complex task.
To address this challenge, Mars partnered with leading animal welfare experts and organizations to launch the State of Pet Homelessness Project, a global data initiative.
Measuring the scale of pet homelessness is a complex task.
To address this challenge, Mars partnered with leading animal welfare experts and organizations to launch the State of Pet Homelessness Project, a global data initiative.
The problem
The project solution
No consistent measure of the prevalence of dog and cat homelessness
A consistent formula estimates the proportion of homeless dogs and cats
No identification of the key issues that need to be solved
Surveys and interviews highlight the leading issues impacting cat and dog homelessness in each country
No ability to turn insights into actions
Survey responses and interviews reveal where actions and interventions could help reduce the chance of pets becoming homeless
The problem
The project solution
No consistent measure of the prevalence of dog and cat homelessness
A consistent formula estimates the proportion of homeless dogs and cats
No identification of the key issues that need to be solved
Surveys and interviews highlight the leading issues impacting cat and dog homelessness in each country
No ability to turn insights into actions
Survey responses and interviews reveal where actions and interventions could help reduce the chance of pets becoming homeless
The problem
The project solution
No consistent measure of the prevalence of dog and cat homelessness
A consistent formula estimates the proportion of homeless dogs and cats
No identification of the key issues that need to be solved
Surveys and interviews highlight the leading issues impacting cat and dog homelessness in each country
No ability to turn insights into actions
Survey responses and interviews reveal where actions and interventions could help reduce the chance of pets becoming homeless
Why we're doing it
Tackling pet homelessness helps both animals and people – bringing the benefits of the human-animal bond to more people and ensuring every pet gets the sustained care and nutrition they need to thrive.
Pets that don't receive the sustained human care they need are at risk of poor health and compromised welfare.
At Mars, we have worked for many years to play our part in tackling pet homelessness issues around the world, with a wide range of programs, partnerships, and donations to support vulnerable pets. However, gathering information on pet homelessness and the contributing issues was challenging, as a single source of data from different countries could not be found.
To address this challenge, Mars partnered with leading animal welfare experts and organizations to develop the State of Pet Homelessness Project, a global data initiative.
Why we're doing it
Tackling pet homelessness helps both animals and people – bringing the benefits of the human-animal bond to more people and ensuring every pet gets the sustained care and nutrition they need to thrive.
Pets that don't receive the sustained human care they need are at risk of poor health and compromised welfare.
At Mars, we have worked for many years to play our part in tackling pet homelessness issues around the world, with a wide range of programs, partnerships, and donations to support vulnerable pets. However, gathering information on pet homelessness and the contributing issues was challenging, as a single source of data from different countries could not be found.
To address this challenge, Mars partnered with leading animal welfare experts and organizations to develop the State of Pet Homelessness Project, a global data initiative.
Why we're doing it
Tackling pet homelessness helps both animals and people – bringing the benefits of the human-animal bond to more people and ensuring every pet gets the sustained care and nutrition they need to thrive.
Pets that don't receive the sustained human care they need are at risk of poor health and compromised welfare.
At Mars, we have worked for many years to play our part in tackling pet homelessness issues around the world, with a wide range of programs, partnerships, and donations to support vulnerable pets. However, gathering information on pet homelessness and the contributing issues was challenging, as a single source of data from different countries could not be found.
To address this challenge, Mars partnered with leading animal welfare experts and organizations to develop the State of Pet Homelessness Project, a global data initiative.
7700+
hours
The Project spent 7700+ hours gathering data, conducted surveys of pet owners and non-pet owners and expert interviews in over nine months of fieldwork
930
data sources reviewed
Including 180+ global and data points reviewed and nearly 30,000 surveys conducted
~30,000
public surveys
Public sample surveys (online and in the field) of pet owners and non-pet owners
200+
pet professionals interviewed
Including 44+ analyst and pet expert interviews such as shelters and NGOs working in the pet homelessness space conducted
Expert advisors
Claire Bessant
FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE
International Cat Care
Brenda N. Bonnett, DVM, PhD
FOUNDER AND FORMER CEO AND VETERINARY SCIENCE OFFICER
International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD)
Joyce Briggs
SENIOR ADVISOR
Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D)
Jeffrey Flocken
PRESIDENT
Humane Society International
Elly Hiby, PhD
DIRECTOR
The International Companion Animal Management (ICAM) Coalition
Ellen Jefferson, DVM
PRESIDENT AND CEO
American Pets Alive!
Andrew Rowan, PhD
PRESIDENT
WellBeing International
Kim Van Syoc
Executive Director
VCA Charities, Banfield Foundation, and BluePearl Cares
Vicky Halls
HEAD OF UNOWNED CATS
International Cat Care
Expert advisors
Claire Bessant
FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE
International Cat Care
Brenda N. Bonnett, DVM, PhD
FOUNDER AND FORMER CEO AND VETERINARY SCIENCE OFFICER
International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD)
Joyce Briggs
SENIOR ADVISOR
Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D)
Jeffrey Flocken
PRESIDENT
Humane Society International
Elly Hiby, PhD
DIRECTOR
The International Companion Animal Management (ICAM) Coalition
Ellen Jefferson, DVM
PRESIDENT AND CEO
American Pets Alive!
Andrew Rowan, PhD
PRESIDENT
WellBeing International
Kim Van Syoc
Executive Director
VCA Charities, Banfield Foundation, and BluePearl Cares
Vicky Halls
HEAD OF UNOWNED CATS
International Cat Care
Expert advisors
Claire Bessant
FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE
International Cat Care
Brenda N. Bonnett, DVM, PhD
FOUNDER AND FORMER CEO AND VETERINARY SCIENCE OFFICER
International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD)
Joyce Briggs
SENIOR ADVISOR
Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D)
Jeffrey Flocken
PRESIDENT
Humane Society International
Elly Hiby, PhD
DIRECTOR
The International Companion Animal Management (ICAM) Coalition
Ellen Jefferson, DVM
PRESIDENT AND CEO
American Pets Alive!
Andrew Rowan, PhD
PRESIDENT
WellBeing International
Kim Van Syoc
Executive Director
VCA Charities, Banfield Foundation, and BluePearl Cares
Vicky Halls
HEAD OF UNOWNED CATS
International Cat Care
How can you help?
Donate to our programs or partners
Discover a range of programs working to address pet homelessness and learn how you can make a difference.
Be a responsible pet owner
Understand how to prepare for and care for a pet. Find out how you can help stray pets.
How can you help?
Donate to our programs or partners
Discover a range of programs working to address pet homelessness and learn how you can make a difference.
Be a responsible pet owner
Understand how to prepare for and care for a pet. Find out how you can help stray pets.
How can you help?
Donate to our programs or partners
Discover a range of programs working to address pet homelessness and learn how you can make a difference.
Be a responsible pet owner
Understand how to prepare for and care for a pet.