Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is a nonprofit research and education organization that gathers, funds and shares scientific research to demonstrate the positive health impacts of companion animals. For the past three years, Inspire has attended HABRI’s annual Spring Policy Forum to gather insights, resources and expert perspectives, which are then synthesized into a white paper designed to inform and support legislative outreach efforts nationwide.

The 2026 HABRI Spring Policy Forum brought together leaders in pet care, animal health, housing, research and public policy to address one of the most pressing challenges facing pet owners today: access to pet-inclusive rental housing. The resulting white paper captures the key discussions, ideas and resources shared during the event and serves as a resource for advancing pet-friendly housing policies at the local, state and federal levels.

For this project, Inspire:

• Attended HABRI’s Spring Policy Forum and gathered detailed notes and information from session speakers and presentations

• Analyzed and organized the gathered information to identify key insights, trends and perspectives relevant to providing actionable steps to support improvements in pet-inclusive rental housing

• Developed report copy in collaboration with the HABRI team, refining content to ensure accuracy and alignment

• Designed a visually engaging white paper incorporating photography, infographics and custom graphic elements for digital and print distribution

To maximize the report’s reach and visibility, Inspire developed and executed a comprehensive promotion strategy. This included distributing a press release through a national newswire to expand distribution, conducting targeted outreach to relevant trade and national media outlets, creating a digital version of the report on Issuu, and developing social media content and a targeted advertising strategy to drive engagement and increase awareness among key audiences.

This year’s report built on two previous years of working with HABRI to create this report. Previous versions have addressed: how pets support mental health and supporting pet ownership and the human-animal bond for underserved populations.