When You Adopt a Pet, You’re Not Just Saving 1 Life, But 2

Pets and people are better together. In fact, according to a survey by Mars, a pet care leading business, and leading mental health company Calm, 83 percent of pet parents say their pets have had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing. Over half of the participants said their pets give their lives a sense of purpose. Meanwhile, 12 million dogs and four million cats live in shelters across the globe, just waiting to find a loving home and to make a difference to a prospective pet parent.  

And we think there is no better way to honor the special relationship between pets and their new parents than to celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and World Animal Day (Oct. 4, 2025), this Mars Global Adoption Weekend (Oct. 3-5). This October, the company is supporting pet adoption worldwide through activities including donations to shelters, adoption events, volunteer opportunities, and other awareness-raising events.  

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There’s more! Mars and Calm have teamed up with rescue mom and award-winning actor, Shailene Woodley (Motor City, Paradise, Big Little Lies) to shine a light on the power of the bond between pets and people and to encourage adoption as a path to pet parenthood.  

Over a year ago, Shailene welcomed her own rescues cats, Bear and Pharrah, into her family. She has witnessed firsthand how her pets’ lives have changed since finding their home with her, and how her life — and mental wellbeing – has been positively impacted by the bond: 

“My rescue cats transformed my world. They bring me peace when I’m overwhelmed with a busy filming schedule, and every day, they remind me to breathe, slow down and live in the moment. I want more people to see that adoption isn’t just an act of compassion for an animal; it can also be an act of care for yourself. In rescuing Bear and Pharrah, they have changed my life as much as I have changed theirs.”  

 You can read all about Shailene’s rescue story in our Q&A here.   

Pets and mental wellbeing are linked.  

Why do we talk about the bond between humans and pets and mental wellbeing in the same breath? Because it’s impossible to talk about one without the other.  

Spending time with pets has been found to increase levels of oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, collectively known as the “happy hormones” because they promote a sense of wellbeing and contentment.  

Behaviorist and regular Kinship contributor Karen London has written for us about the importance of this chemical bond between pets and their people: “With its reputation as the feel-good hormone, it’s no surprise that oxytocin figures heavily into our relationship with [our pets]. We’ve learned much about its effects on both species, and new research will surely reveal even more about its relevance to the bond we share.”  

And the benefits work both ways: A 2023 study found that only three months after a shelter animal has been adopted, dogs show increased signs of confidence, while cats show signs of bonding and calm.  

Take a minute to get “calm” with your pet.   

In May, Mars and Calm partnered to create the first-ever pet-inspired content collection. The meditations, breathing exercises, Sleep Stories, and more encourage pet parents to take a cue from their pets and indulge a much-needed break, while reflecting on how our animals guide us toward better wellbeing.   

After the collection launched, Dr. Tammie King, a specialist in human-animal interaction and a senior research manager at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, told Kinship that our pets are actually great reminders for us to live in the moment.   

“Pets often nudge us toward better wellbeing without us even realizing it,” she says. “This could be your cat walking across your keyboard when you’re working too long or your dog sitting close to you to encourage you to pet them. She adds that “these little behaviors might seem disruptive at first,” but they “pull us out of what we’re doing and bring us into the present.”  

New adoptive pet parents get three months of Calm access — totally free this October. 

To celebrate Global Adoption Weekend, Mars and Calm are offering three months of free access to Calm Premium* to new adoptive pet parents, giving them tools to navigate the early days of pet parenthood and allowing them to find a moment to de-stress and relax during what is an exciting (but sometimes chaotic!) time. 

Others can also enjoy the free-to-access Mars x Calm Collection, which features new content, such as meditations, breathing exercise, soundscapes and more, to help pet parents find peace and rest.  

The collection features a Sleep Story from rescue mom, Shailene Woodley.  

Shailene’s Sleep Story, “Finding Four Legged Friends,” was inspired by her own experience of welcoming rescue cats into her home:  

“These are the cuddliest cats I’ve ever had,” she shares with Kinship. “I have this theory that they remember being on the streets, so there’s a quiet sort of gratitude in them. They remember not knowing when their next meal would arrive or where they could sleep that was stable and safe … They are thankful to have humans that love them and take such good care of them. And, in turn, I’m so thankful to them for the beautiful impact they’ve had on my life and my wellbeing.” 

There’s no better way to put it; animals do indeed make our lives immeasurably better. As we acknowledge Mars Global Adoption Weekend, let’s all take a few deep breaths and celebrate the fact that we are so lucky to have this mutual bond with our pets.  

 *Offer not available if you’ve previously tried Calm Premium. Offer valid through Oct 30, 2025. When your trial ends you will automatically renew at the then-current retail price in your territory every year until cancelled; cancel any time. One redemption per offer per account. Terms and conditions apply.