Due to the multifaceted research and support given to the science community, Mars played a significant role in establishing human-animal bonding as part of a scientifically recognised research field that is today deeply seated in numerous facilities and universities.

In 2007, the company was presented with the "IAHAIO Pioneer Award" in recognition of their long-standing commitment to science. The board of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) rewarded Mars for the outstanding contributions made in the last 30 years towards a better knowledge and understanding of human-animal bonding.

Commitment towards the applied science of human-animal bonding in Germany

For more than 20 years, Mars Petcare Germany has been intensely supporting the work of the Research Group for Pets in Society (Forschungskreis Heimtiere in der Gesellschaft), an initiative founded in 1988 by renowned scientists and animal experts. During this time the company has sponsored numerous studies and research into the social, health and psychological aspects of human-animal bonding. The work of this research group, which represents the national IAHAIO organisation, has largely contributed to the fact that this field of research is intensely being studied by an increasing number of scientists with steadily growing areas of application.

The significance of this new inter-disciplinary science field became obvious during conventions held on human-animals bonding in 2007 and 2008, which were substantially supported by Mars and instantly became the largest and most important events on this subject area in the German-speaking countries with a participation of over 400 people at each event.

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