Understanding the Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond

Animalia art exhibition

The Heidi Horten Collection explores the relationship between humans and (other) animals as expressed in art

Four-Legged Therapy: How Pets Provide Emotional Support for Individuals with Dementia

Pets offer individuals with dementia a comforting and consistent presence, alleviating feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Their intuitive r

Pets are Improving Health for Older Adults

Pets improve the physical and mental health of everyone, but for older people, pets can be even more beneficial. They keep people active, gi

Unleashed: True Stories About the Animals We Love

Brain scans found that mothers looking at their own dogs activated some of the same attachment networks as when they looked at their own children — evidence that the bond between humans and pets is biologically real

Show a mother a photograph of her own dog, then a photograph of her own child, slide her into an MRI scanner, and a good deal of what lights

Scientists finally agree: Animals Feel More Than We Ever Acknowledged

Many of us with close animal companions have actively witnessed the layers of emotion they show us, but for decades, science largely ignored