Rombach, MeikeDean, David2021-11-022021-10-302021-112021-10-292076-2615XH2CA (isidoc)34827833 (pubmed)https://hdl.handle.net/10182/14348The study provides insights for pet food retailers, vets and managers and volunteers at animal shelters, pet food pantries and food banks into the behavioral changes in feeding and pet food buying resulting from pet food anxiety in Covidian times. This study proposes a model that investigates the impact of pet owner’s perceptions of their pet, their engagement with their pet, sociodemographic factors and the frequency of incidences where pet owners could not provide sufficient food for their pet. For this purpose, an online survey with a sample of 206 US residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that perceiving the pet as an animal or family/friend, as well as active engagement with the pet, heightens a sense of pet food anxiety. Similarly, past experiences where pet owners could not provide sufficient food for their pet impacts pet food anxiety, which leads to changes in pet food shopping and pet feeding behavior. Sociodemographic factors (biological sex, age, income and education) were not found to impact anxiety.18 pagesElectronicen© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.COVID-19panic buyingpet food anxietypet food insecuritypet parentingJournal Article10.3390/ani111131012076-2615ANZSRC::350601 Consumer behaviourANZSRC::350606 Marketing research methodologyANZSRC::3003 Animal productionANZSRC::3009 Veterinary sciencesANZSRC::3109 Zoologyhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Attribution