Pet Owner Connectedness Scale

We forge deep bonds with our pets, surpassing mere words. Take this test to find out the strength of your connection.

By Scott Travers, Ph.D. | March 12, 2024

An overwhelming number of pet owners cherish their animals as true friends, recognizing the companionship, unconditional love and support they provide.

The Pet Owner Connectedness Scale (POCS), developed by Oliva and Johnston in 2022, is a tool designed to measure the level of connectedness between pet owners and their animal companions. Their analyses resulted in two distinct factors: owner-pet connection and connectedness through pets.

The owner-pet connection dimension of the scale can help gauge the strength and quality of the bond between an individual and their pet. The tool aims to measure your connectedness with the pet you are closest to or spend the most time with.

You can take this test here. Please follow all of the steps to receive your results.

Step 1: Rate the following statements, on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree, based on how much you agree with them in relation to the pet you are closest to:

1. My pet is good company.

2. My pet improves my mental state.

3. My pet influences my mood in a positive way.

4. It is important for me to be able to touch and feel my pet.

5. My pet provides me with companionship.

6. My pet provides me with comfort and reassurance.

7. My pet is a constant in my life.

8. My pet provides me with a sense of connection.

9. I feel a sense of belonging with my pet.

10. My pet is reliably there for me.

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores to people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Biological Research Scientist, Scott Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.

References: Oliva, J. L., Johnston, K. L. (2022). Development of the Pet Owner Connectedness Scale (POCS), Anthrozoös, 35(4), 545-557.