Webinars

Abstract

The perinatal period, which includes pregnancy and up to a child’s first year of life, is a known significant transitional time for a family, and new mothers have a heightened risk for developing mental health difficulties. Pets can offer protective benefits by enhancing coping and resilience, yet wellbeing benefits perinatally remain unresearched. There’s also a lack of investigation into pet welfare during the perinatal period, despite the likelihood of pets being affected by perinatal changes. This study used qualitative reports from new and expecting mothers with dogs and/or cats to explore the interplay between the human–pet bond, maternal mental health, and pet welfare. Findings highlight shifts in human–pet bonds, the nature of human-pet interactions, changes in pet behaviour, pet aversion, unsafe baby–pet interactions, and the impact of shifting priorities on pet wellbeing and relinquishment. The workshop will share these findings with a focus on parents’ support needs around companion animals, and discuss how tailored resources and interventions can both safeguard pet welfare and promote maternal mental health during this important transitional life stage. Discussion and feedback will be gathered around what should be included within these resources, what they should look like, and how they should be disseminated.