We humans really love our pets and this love is an unconditional one, second only to the unconditional love between humans and their offspring. Some would even say that the bond and attachment between a human and their pet animal is on the same level as the one between a human and their child. Particularly in the case of pet cats and dogs, researchers have even concluded that the relationship between people and their cats/dogs has greatly strengthened over time. And the practice of keeping a pet animal has also been on the rise for quite some time.
And it goes deeper than that. For a lot of individuals, pets can even prove to be a source of emotional support and strength. This might sound somewhat strange but research actually backs up this claim. In a survey of married American women,
40 percent of the respondents said that they usually got more emotional support from their pets than they had from their husband or children. We, humans, have developed a real attachment and association with our pets, so much so that their troubles can feel like our own and we feel sad or happy if our pets feel sad or happy.
What’s more? Pet animals also develop a special bond with their owners and feel a great sense of safety and comfort in their presence. Just like pet owners think of their pets as part of the family, pets also consider their owners as family and are able to pick up subtle behavioral cues that suggest something is not as it usually is.
Countless individuals consider their pet animals to be their best friends. Playing and cuddling with them is one of the best parts of their day. Pet owners will tell you that the way their pets listen to them and make them feel like they are the most special and important people in the world is something that is immensely satisfying. That dash to the door to greet their owners when they arrive home is an instant mood lifter for all pet owners. And the bond between people and their pets is so strong that the animals are often able to sense and recognize when something is wrong. Even a very subtle change in our demeanor can be noticed quite clearly.
The amount of love and emotional support that pets are able to provide is greatly valued by the owners. Simply a little bit of cuddling and stroking can help people lower their blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Thus, pets can be a great source of stress relief as well as relaxation. And these feelings are mutual between pets and their owners. The human touch can have a warm and therapeutic effect on the pet animals, especially if they are feeling down and out of sorts.
There is a reason why lots of sick and elderly people tend to keep pets. They find great support in the companionship of these animals particularly when they start to lose the human connection from their lives either due to old age, illness, or estrangement from loved ones. Furthermore, pet animals can be a great pillar of strength and friendship for people who are not very good at making sense of the world around them. For example, children who suffer from autism can be patiently guided from their confusing and isolated world by a loving pet. Even depression and anxiety disorders have been known to ease off in the presence of a pet animal in the home.
As mentioned earlier, pet animals have this wonderful ability to pick up behavioral cues and identify how their owners are feeling. They can know when their masters are not in a good mood or going through a tough period of grief and unhappiness. The strength of the bond between pet animals and their owners is such that not only are the pets really good at spotting unusual patterns of behavior in their owners, but they even try to cheer them up and make them feel better through various antics.
Years and years of living together prompt these pets to think of their owners almost as parents who nurture them in an enabling environment. The strength of the bond and level of trust in the relationship allows these pets to feel safe and secure in the presence of their owners. Pet owners these days increasingly see them as lovable and receptive creatures that truly feel for and love their owners. This is a bond built on mutual trust, support, and understanding.