There’s something undeniably magical about the unconditional love between pets and their humans—a connection so profound that actress Bryce Dallas Howard was inspired to direct a heartwarming new documentary, Pets, now streaming on Disney+. Produced by her father Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries, the film dives into the emotional and social impact animals have on our lives, a subject close to Howard’s heart.
“I have pets, and they’ve done a great job domesticating me,” Howard tells Parents with a laugh. Growing up surrounded by animals, she always cherished those relationships. But not everyone shares that childhood experience—like me. My pet-free upbringing (save for a short-lived fish tank) left me longing for a furry companion to cuddle and bond with.
It wasn’t until I adopted Chloe, a sweet chihuahua mix with a limp and a heart full of love, that I truly understood the depth of this connection. Though our time together was short, her unwavering affection helped me through a difficult chapter, and saying goodbye left a permanent mark on my heart.
Howard nods to this universal experience in Pets, highlighting how animals bring out the best in us—whether by calming our nerves, encouraging us to get outside, or simply offering pure, judgment-free love. “Sometimes people feel they need permission to talk about their pets,” she says. “They worry others will think they’re the ‘crazy cat lady’ or ‘obsessed dog dad.’ But pets are something we can all connect over.”
One of the documentary’s most touching moments features a boy with a cleft palate who adopted a dog with the same condition—a bond that transcended words. Howard wanted children to be central to the film, believing their honesty and sense of responsibility toward pets reveal the purest form of this relationship. “There’s no pretense with kids and their pets,” she says. “They’re little, very honest adults caring for these vulnerable beings.”
Today, my family may officially consist of three humans, but in reality, we’re a household of five—thanks to our two cats, Roxy and Mallory, who’ve taught my daughter empathy, responsibility, and kindness.
Howard hopes Pets will spark more conversations about these transformative connections, joking that she’d love to turn it into a series: “Pet lovers love other pet lovers. We’ve only scratched the surface of these incredible stories.”
