You Did Not Live Until You Loved An Animal

Until you know what it means to love an animal, you will not know the true purity and emotional awakening of the kind that can heal the soul. Loving a dog, a cat or another living being – no matter how small, restless or unique – enriches your life and shows you in what ways their feelings are worth just as much as ours.

We have all read about the benefits of having a pet. But what is more interesting is to find out the impact that pets have on public health. According to many different studies, it appears that pets replace a large number of doctor visits that are made every year,  which in turn will mean that one can save around 3 million Euros per year on health care in countries such as Germany and Austria.

Everyone can talk with love about the time when they brought a special friend home, and how this special friend turned their world and their hearts upside down. It’s something that wakes up inside you when you take a dog, or if you save a kitten from the street, hungry, dirty and in need of love.

It is like a light that is lit inside you, like a device that begins to move inside you and helps you change into a better person.

Animal therapy

Let us first consider the case of Claudia, a woman with Alzheimer’s disease  who had lost interest in what was happening in the real world a long time ago. None of the activities that took place where she lived helped her, except one: when they brought four small dogs trained for this type of therapy in to meet the residents.

Claudia was especially excited about one of these dogs. She just needed to take a look at him to make her face light up, and she gained more energy and became more preoccupied with what was happening in the real world. It went incredibly well. Just a moment after the first meeting, she took the animal in her arms, kissed it and told it a million secrets. Thanks to this interaction, it has been possible to reduce Claudia’s need for medication. Animals are the best medicine. 

According to a study published in the journal  Frontiers in Psychology, this “awakening” may be due to an activation of oxytocin, which is a hormone produced by love  and affection. As oxytocin levels increase, we experience psychological and physiological chain reactions that make us more present and aware of everything that involves emotions ( hugs, hugs, loving words, and so on.)

An animal’s gaze

Sometimes, with just one glance, animals can establish a better emotional contact than humans can. Animals have an incredibly large capacity to connect with someone emotionally, even through just simple gestures or glances. It is actually known that the eye contact between a dog and its owner is so genuine and sincere that it strengthens the bond between them.

According to an interesting study published in the journal  Science Magazine ,  dogs can recognize human smiles, show empathy  and they can even interpret our emotions by looking us in the eye. This is a result of the many years we have developed together, where an exceptional bond has been formed, which goes much further than just species and size. It comes straight from the genes and straight from the heart. 

We become the human being that is reflected in the eyes of our pets

People often say that our dogs’ eyes are the best mirror to see the reflection of our soul.  This is so true.

• If an animal that you have raised escapes from you and you see fear in their eyes, something is not right. Fear flourishes on negative emotions.
• There are few things more therapeutic than coming home and being in a bad mood, with tears in your eyes burning like grains of sand, and then suddenly seeing yourself reflected in the eyes of your dog or cat. It’s like they’ll hug you and tell you everything’s going to work out.

• For your pet, you’re the most beautiful thing in the whole world, and it’s not just because you’re feeding them. They are also concerned that you show them love.
• Looking into your pet’s eyes can also be a mirror that helps you accept yourself. Their eyes are sincere and they can offer you a different perspective where you can relativize your own problems, worries and stress. All you have to do is give them a hug, and the pieces will fall into place.

The wonderful dose of oxytocin that your pets help you produce, we take with us further and help us connect to reality  and to combine their affection with the hope we need to get through the daily ups and downs of a safer way. Because we are all a little unconscious until we discover what it feels like to love an animal.