Research suggests people who feel more empathy for dogs than humans aren't broken - their empathy is fully intact, it's just been directed toward the only available recipient that has never weaponized it, and a person whose empathy has been weaponized enough times eventually stops handing it to anyone who could do it again - Silicon Canals

"Research from the University of Helsinki indicates that empathetic individuals interpret dogs' facial expressions more intensely, suggesting that human empathy extends to canine emotional cues."

"Miiamaaria V. Kujala, a postdoctoral researcher, found that 'Empathy affected assessments of dogs' facial expressions even more than previous experience of dogs, probably because the face is a biologically important stimulus for humans.'"

"This suggests we're actually hardwired to respond empathetically to dogs-it's not just something we learn through experience."

"Dogs do not manipulate emotions like humans, which may contribute to a stronger empathetic response towards them."

Empathy can become selective, often manifesting more towards animals than humans. Research indicates that empathetic individuals interpret dogs' facial expressions more intensely, suggesting a biological predisposition to respond to canine emotional cues. This selective empathy is not indicative of a character flaw but rather a reflection of how emotional connections are formed. Dogs do not manipulate emotions like humans, which may contribute to a stronger empathetic response towards them. The brain's wiring influences this phenomenon, highlighting the complexity of human emotional responses.

Read at Silicon Canals