Purina BetterwithPets Prize 2020

Purina and Ashoka recognize the power of the pet-human bond to transform society. And we know innovators and social entrepreneurs are some of the first to unleash these dynamic, new, creative solutions to foster positive impacts for individuals and communities.  

This year, the second edition of the Purina BetterwithPets Prize features two application streams and an expanded geographical scope. Purina and Ashoka are on the search for social innovations both piloted/implemented and idea-stage that are focused on harnessing the mutual positive power of the pet-human bond. The latter stream, idea-stage innovations, is specifically aimed at young innovators, from 18 to 25 years old. 

We’re inspired by innovators and social entrepreneurs who are benefiting both pets and humans by: 

• Leveraging the pet-human bond to help develop further key emotional and behavioural competences in children and adults (such as empathy, compassion, emotional intelligence and collaboration) as well as enabling both people and pets to learn from each other and cultivate emotional self-care to overcome societal issues such as violence, abuse, or abandonment. For example, the 2018 BetterwithPets Finalist Canine Hope, runs a programme dedicated to working with survivors of rape and sexual violence, with rescue dogs in need of a home as canine co-tutors. 

• Bringing the power of the pet-human bond to the community level to promote inclusivity by connecting and convening people and pets, helping them overcome disconnection and isolation. For example, pet-human community initiatives that help people with disabilities or the elderly overcome physical limitations, as demonstrated by 2018 BetterwithPets Prize winner the OOPOEH Foundation which helps to reduce loneliness and increase physical activity for the elderly by matching them as a dog sitter to a family in their neighbourhood.  

• Enhancing physical health and wellness through pet therapies, or by enabling people and pets to live a healthier life. An example is Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO) by Ashoka Fellow Michelle Lem, that aims to improve the health of homeless individuals and their pets through a “one health” model of care. By offering human health services and health education alongside preventative veterinary care, CVO seeks to improve access to veterinary and human health resources for an at-risk population and leverage the human-animal bond to increase human health resource uptake. 

• Re-imagining the role of pets in society. Projects that aim at researching and/or working on how pets can help improve public health system. For example, the 2018 BetterwithPets Finalist Medical Detection Dogs, a charity harnessing the powerful scenting ability of dogs to help detect the early stages of Parkinson’s disease in patients.  

• Revolutionizing veterinary care for pets. Ashoka Fellow Nalinika Obeyesekere is a great example of this. She has established Pet Vet Clinic in Sri Lanka to raise the standard of animal health care, by combining a unique multi-doctor model that allows clients to benefit from the varied expertise and interests of a diverse veterinary team. In addition, her project is promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare standards. 

These examples just begin to capture how forward-thinking social innovators could harness the positive power of the pet-human bond for the health and wellbeing of society.

On 3 June, Purina and Ashoka have announced the 2020 winners of the BetterwithPets Prize, in a virtual forum streamed live on YouTube. 

The prizes, an investment of up to CHF 100,000 for piloted/implemented innovations and up to CHF 20,000 for idea-stage innovations, support and accelerate the most innovative initiatives and ideas that harness the positive mutual power of the pet-human bond for the benefit of our communities.