BRITISH charity Blue Cross has launched a report examining the devastating impact poverty, mental health problems and loneliness has on society and how pet ownership is the beneficial link in the chain for so many people.

Experts on pet welfare, mental health, poverty and loneliness all met last Thursday, November 28th for a Blue Cross conference to address how society can benefit from pet ownership and animal interactions and to call for any future government to recognise the significant positive impact animals can have on people’s lives. The charity would like to see further scientific research undertaken in this area to enable the introduction of more evidence-based policies.