Multi-species families aren’t just a cultural shift — they’re a One Health reality. By recognizing pets as family, we’re reshaping how we approach health, caregiving, housing, and community well-being across species. Policies and programs must catch up with culture, ensuring no family member — human or animal — is left behind.
READ THIS 👉 "Multi-species families, a change that is here to stay: when pets become just another family member"
This article highlights how households are increasingly “multi-species,” where pets are not just companions but integral family members. This shift connects directly to One Health — the recognition that the health of humans, non-humans, and the environment are deeply interconnected.
Why This Matters for One Health:
- Human Well-Being: Pets provide emotional support, reduce stress, and strengthen social networks.
- Animal Health: As families see pets as “children,” they prioritize preventive veterinary care, nutrition, and access to services.
- Community & Environmental Health: Pet-inclusive households affect housing policies, urban design (parks, shelters, pet-friendly spaces), and public health preparedness.
Community One Health Clinics are an example that bring together medical, veterinary, and social service teams so people and pets receive care in one place. This model reduces barriers for underserved families who otherwise might forgo treatment — for either themselves or their pets.
How is your organization changing policies or programs to help “the family”? Please share.
Here are some other readings on Multi-Species Families & One Health:
- SMU Research on Multi-Species Families (Andrea Laurent-Simpson) – pets as children/siblings, reshaping economics and healthcare.
Read here
- Mutual Recognition in Latin American Multispecies Families – defining family through emotional bonds, not species.
Harvard ReVista
- Global Pet Parenthood Trends – how shifting demographics and economics make pets central to households.
MarketWatch
- Pets as Children in Italy & Argentina – cultural shifts where pets replace children, highlighting social and policy implications.
AP News | Financial Times
- Opinion: Pets as “Fur Babies” – how everyday language reflects deep cultural shifts in family structures.
Houston Chronicle
-------------------------------------------
------------------------------
T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Program for Pet Health Equity
------------------------------