From bond to guardianship: a serial mediation model explaining how the human–pet bond protects against pet relinquishment

Introduction Pet relinquishment is a major global animal welfare issue, yet the psychological mechanisms that protect against it remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on social bond theory and the cognitive–affective system framework, this study examined whether the human–pet bond influences attitudes toward pet relinquishment through a sequential cognitive–emotional pathway involving pet suffering perception and pet empathy. Methods We first developed and validated a two-dimensional Pet Relinquishment Attitude Scale (PRAS), comprising relinquishment rationalization and responsibility commitment, tailored for collectivistic contexts. Survey data were collected from 444 pet owners. Correlation analyses and serial mediation analyses were conducted to test the proposed model. Results A stronger human–pet bond was significantly associated with higher responsibility commitment ( r = 0.541, p < 0.001), but was not significantly associated with relinquishment rationalization ( r = −0.081, p = 0.087). Serial mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect pathway from human–pet bond to responsibility commitment through pet suffering perception and pet empathy (b = 0.031, SE = 0.009, 95% CI [0.014, 0.049]). Specifically, a stronger human–pet bond increased owners’ sensitivity to their pets’ distress, which in turn evoked greater pet empathy and strengthened responsibility commitment. Discussion The findings suggest that the protective role of the human–pet bond operates through a cognitive–emotional mechanism involving both pet suffering perception and pet empathy. By identifying this pathway and introducing the PRAS as a culturally relevant measure of pet relinquishment attitudes, the study contributes to the literature on responsible pet ownership and provides practical implications for pet relinquishment prevention.