At the Bone & Biscuit, we have always believed that pets make life better. This May, during Mental Health Month, we are putting that belief into action. We are proud to introduce Paws for a Cause, a national mental health initiative created in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
This campaign is about more than fundraising. It is about recognizing the quiet, powerful role that pets play in our emotional lives every single day, and creating a community that gives back to the people and animals who need support most.
The “Pet Effect”: What Research Tells Us
According to the Government of Canada, 39.5% of Canadian households owned at least one cat in 2024, while 38.1% owned a dog, and pet ownership continues to grow. It turns out that our instinct to bring animals into our homes may be doing more for our health than we realize.
Research consistently shows that companion animals have a measurable, positive impact on human mental wellness. Bonding with a pet has been shown to reduce cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, while boosting oxytocin and dopamine, the neurochemicals linked to social bonding and positive emotion.
How Pets Support Our Mental Wellness
According to the CMHA, pet owners commonly report a wide range of physical and emotional benefits from their animal companions, including lower fear and anxiety, reduced blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, fewer symptoms of depression and PTSD, increased physical activity, greater social interaction and community engagement, improved social functioning, and reduced feelings of loneliness.
Animals have also long been integrated into formal therapeutic settings. Animal-assisted interventions are used to support people experiencing psychiatric disorders, autism, dementia, limited mobility, and social isolation, including many seniors who benefit deeply from the companionship of a pet.
Of course, pet ownership is not without its challenges. Research from the American Psychiatric Association found that concerns around a pet’s aging and passing (71%), their health problems (66%), and the cost of health care (58%) are among the most common stressors for pet owners. That is exactly why caring for our pets’ wellbeing matters just as much as caring for our own.
Whether they have fur, feathers, or scales, animals can bring a quiet connection and joy into our lives.
Why We Partnered with CMHA
Mental Health Month in May creates a timely, national moment to come together and give back. The CMHA is Canada’s most established mental health organization, and this partnership allows us to support mental health in a way that resonates deeply with pet parents, our franchise communities, and Canadians coast to coast.
/How You Can Get Involved
How You Can Get Involved
Throughout May, you can donate in-store at any the Bone & Biscuit location by adding a contribution at checkout. You can also visit our campaign page online to make a donation directly and share the campaign with friends, family, and fellow pet lovers on social media to help spread the word.
All campaign materials are being shared with the Bone & Biscuit franchise locations across the country, ensuring this message reaches communities from coast to coast.
A Note on Our Pets’ Mental Health
This campaign is also a reminder that emotional wellbeing is not one-sided. Just as our pets support us, we have a responsibility to support them. Throughout May, we will be sharing educational content, expert insights, and highlighting products that contribute to better emotional wellbeing for pets. Because a happy, healthy pet and a happy, healthy you go hand in hand.
