• Nestlé Purina champion for a better world with pets, as it becomes the first ever petcare company to announce ten comprehensive commitments
• UK panellists Professor Daniel Mills and Dr Claire Guest join other European leaders to discuss the significance of pets in society

Nestlé Purina held its first ever ‘Better with Pets’ European Forum yesterday, highlighting the invaluable contribution of pets in society and championing for a better world for people and pets. The company also announced its Purina in Society Commitments*  – the company’s ten comprehensive initiatives to help create a world where people and pets can be better together. These commitments are the first of its kind by a petcare company, paving the way for the future.

Increased urbanisation, longer working hours and a lack of recognition of pets’ vital and positive role in our lives are all cited as barriers to future pet ownership across Europe.

Research on the available scientific evidence presented by Purina at the forum, revealed that our four-legged friends deliver many positive benefits to our health and wellbeing, from reducing stress and loneliness, to improving self-esteem and mental health conditions.  However, there is a missed opportunity when it comes to the positive impact of pets and their role in society, and Purina believes more needs to be done to promote, celebrate and protect pets’ valuable role in our world.

Increased urbanisation, longer working hours and a lack of recognition of pets’ vital and positive role in our lives are all cited as barriers to future pet ownership across Europe. People may increasingly find it harder to combine pets with the demands of modern life.  In recognition of this, European experts and industry leaders came together today in Brussels to debate the issues including UK panellists Professor Daniel Mills, a well-known international authority on companion animal behaviour, cognition and welfare and Dr. Claire Guest, the Co-Founder of Medical Detection Dogs, an organisation that trains dogs to identify human disease by odour.

We know pets can have a positive affect in our lives and the pet-human bond is something that cannot be taken for granted…

Purina also announced its own ‘Purina in Society Commitments’  – the company’s ten initiatives to help create a world where people and pets can be better together, which is the first of its kind in the industry.  These ten commitments are measurable actions, which include promoting responsible pet ownership; pet adoption; pets in the workplace, and leading the way in pet health research.

Richard Watson, Regional Director, Purina UK comments: “We believe that society that is stronger and healthier when pets are welcomed into it. As pet owners we know this and there is a huge opportunity for collaboration. Therefore we have invited leading pet health and wellbeing experts, as well as individuals and organisations from across Europe and Russia to join us in our efforts to create a better world for people and pets.” 

Bernard Meunier, Chief Executive of Nestlé Purina Pet Care Europe, Middle East and North Africa comments: “We know pets can have a positive affect in our lives and the pet-human bond is something that cannot be taken for granted. Yet pets’ positive role in society can often be undervalued and a number of factors are affecting pets and pet owners more than ever. Pet obesity is on the rise; there is a lack of education, very few companies allow pets into the office and pet coverage in the media can often be negative, despite their proven positive effect on society.

“We are inviting pet-friendly people everywhere to join us – celebrate the positive impacts of pets; to help pets be recognised as an essential part of society. From pet adoption, pets at work or people and pet health research – at Purina, we are making real measurable commitments to play our part and make a difference.”

Get involved in the conversation at #Wearebetterwithpets. For more information, please visit www.purina.co.uk/purinainsociety