"For many people, the love that carried them through childhood didn't come from the adults who were supposed to soothe, guide, and protect them. It came padded on four legs, wrapped in fur, breath, or gentle weight. Animals have a remarkable way of stepping into the emotional gaps left by human caregivers-offering steadiness, warmth, and unconditional regard without asking a child to contort themselves into impossible shapes."
"Children are wired to attach. We reach for protection and regulation from someone who can calm our fears and hold our emotions. When caregivers can't offer that-because of stress, absence, or their own unhealed pain-a child's attachment system doesn't stop seeking. It looks for another place to land. Animals often become that place."
"Interactions with companion animals increase oxytocin-the hormone tied to bonding and safety-in both humans and dogs. Gentle touch with pets reduces cortisol and supports calming physiological responses."
Animals often become primary attachment figures when caregivers cannot provide consistent soothing, protection, or regulation during childhood. Pets offer predictable presence and somatic cues—such as a dog's greeting, a cat's purr, or a rabbit's warm weight—that help shift children from vigilance into ease. Animal affection is uncomplicated and nonjudgmental, requiring no explanations or emotional performances. Interactions with companion animals increase oxytocin and decrease cortisol, supporting physiological calming and bonding. Strong bonds with pets also teach relational clarity and co-regulation skills, producing measurable emotional and neurobiological benefits that support development and resilience.
Read at Psychology Today
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