#pet-amorphosis

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fromPsychology Today
12 hours ago

When Harm OCD Involves Pets

OCD is a condition often misunderstood, particularly when it involves thoughts about harm. Importantly, in these cases, the intrusive thoughts about harming someone are egodystonic. This means they are not aligned with the individual's real intention and values.
Pets
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

Why We Cry Emotional Tears When No Other Animal Does

Emotional tears serve as a unique social signal in humans, communicating feelings and activating empathy in observers.
Philosophy
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

Animal Minds: Can We Really Know What They Think and Feel?

Challenges in studying animal minds can strengthen scientific understanding and foster a deeper connection with nonhuman species.
Pets
fromSilicon Canals
2 days ago

Psychology says the grief people feel when a dog dies is often heavier than they expected because the dog witnessed years of their private self that no human in their life ever saw - Silicon Canals

Grief for a pet can be profound and complex, often surpassing societal expectations based on relationship hierarchy.
#ai
fromPsychology Today
6 days ago
Mental health

ChatGPT Goes to Therapy: The New Emotional Economy

AI is reshaping emotional expression and communication, but it risks creating a 'false self' and replacing genuine human connections.
fromThe Washington Post
1 month ago
US news

These people used AI to help find their lost pets

AI technology is enhancing the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
6 days ago

ChatGPT Goes to Therapy: The New Emotional Economy

AI is reshaping emotional expression and communication, but it risks creating a 'false self' and replacing genuine human connections.
Pets
fromMail Online
2 days ago

You're playing with your dog WRONG! Why throwing a ball isn't enough

Playing interactive games with dogs strengthens the bond between pet and owner more than simply throwing a ball.
Writing
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

Reimagining Animal Sentience: A Novel View of Animal Minds

Animal sentience is real, and poetry can transform our understanding and treatment of animals as conscious beings.
History
fromWorld History Encyclopedia
2 weeks ago

Dogs & Their Collars in Ancient Mesopotamia: Man's Best Friend in the Ancient Near East

The dog collar originated in ancient Mesopotamia, reflecting a long-standing relationship between humans and dogs.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
2 days ago

Why People Risk Their Lives for Animals in War

Civilians in Ukraine face life-threatening decisions, often prioritizing their pets over personal safety due to emotional responses under extreme stress.
#human-animal-bond
fromSilicon Canals
2 weeks ago
Psychology

Psychology says people who let their pets sleep in their bed aren't clingy or emotionally stunted - they've found one of the only relationships in modern life that offers unconditional presence without the performance anxiety that makes human connection so exhausting - Silicon Canals

Needing comfort from pets is not a weakness; it can enhance emotional well-being and reduce anxiety.
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago
Online Community Development

The Power of Human-Animal Relationships: 'Unleashing the Bond'

Human-animal relationships significantly influence physical health, emotional well-being, and community resilience through scientifically measurable mechanisms beyond sentimental value.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
2 weeks ago

Psychology says people who let their pets sleep in their bed aren't clingy or emotionally stunted - they've found one of the only relationships in modern life that offers unconditional presence without the performance anxiety that makes human connection so exhausting - Silicon Canals

Needing comfort from pets is not a weakness; it can enhance emotional well-being and reduce anxiety.
Pets
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
3 days ago

Meet Bruce, the parrot with a broken beak that he wields as a weapon

Bruce, an injured Kea parrot, uses his disability to dominate his social group through innovative jousting behavior.
#dog-behavior
Pets
fromMail Online
4 days ago

You're walking your dog wrong! Experts reveal why pets act up

Dogs take longer walks in spring due to increased scents, and owners should allow them to explore rather than rush.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
3 weeks ago

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

Empathy can be selective, often directed more towards animals than humans due to psychological and biological factors.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

A Compassionate History of American Attitudes Toward Animals

A new book details the evolution of human-animal relationships and highlights the responsibility for unseen consequences of our actions towards other species.
Philosophy
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

'Animate': How Nonhuman and Human Minds Are Inherently Linked

Humans share traits with animals and have become disconnected, wrongly believing in our superiority over them.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

What I Learned From My Cat, a Meow Is Not Always a Meow

Cats may vocalize excessively due to health issues like hyperthyroidism, which can lead to misunderstandings between pets and their owners.
#veterinary-care
Pets
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

Why do vets charge more to scan an animal than a private hospital would to scan a human?

Veterinary MRI scans for pets are more expensive than human scans due to factors like VAT, anesthesia requirements, and overall treatment costs.
Pets
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Reforms must be fair tovets and pet owners | Letters

Increased veterinary costs and reduced services threaten the availability of essential pet care for owners.
Pets
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

Why do vets charge more to scan an animal than a private hospital would to scan a human?

Veterinary MRI scans for pets are more expensive than human scans due to factors like VAT, anesthesia requirements, and overall treatment costs.
Pets
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Reforms must be fair tovets and pet owners | Letters

Increased veterinary costs and reduced services threaten the availability of essential pet care for owners.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

The Clout of Companion Animal Psychology for Dogs and Cats

Zazie Todd aims to improve the lives of dogs and cats through scientific understanding and compassionate care.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Why Seven Dogs Escaping Captivity Gives Hope to Us All

Resilience and leadership can emerge from unexpected sources, as demonstrated by a group of dogs navigating challenges together.
fromLady Freethinker
1 week ago

People More Likely to Stay at Homeless Shelters if Their Beloved Pets Are Allowed, New Study Finds

The Pet Assistance and Support Program has made it easier for thousands to enter shelters and move into permanent housing, serving 4,407 people between 2020 and 2024.
Pets
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

There's a kind of intelligence that never gets measured because it lives entirely in the body. The person who can feel the weather changing in their knees, read a dog's mood from across the street, and know a room is wrong before anyone speaks. - Silicon Canals

Intelligence extends beyond cognitive abilities, encompassing bodily awareness and interoception as vital forms of processing information.
Pets
fromSilicon Canals
2 weeks ago

Psychology says people who treat their dogs like children aren't substituting the dog for human connection - they've found a relationship in which the attachment system can operate without the self-protective interference that human relationships almost always trigger, and the love that results is not lesser for its safety, it is simply the version of love that the person is most fully capable of giving without the armor on - Silicon Canals

People treating dogs like children are not compensating for something missing; they are experiencing a profound understanding of love and attachment.
Pets
fromwww.nytimes.com
3 weeks ago

The New Family Portrait Has Four Legs and a Tail

Pet portraiture has gained popularity among everyday people, reflecting a shift in how animals are represented in art.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

Dogs and People: Stories of Redemption and Mutual Rescue

Canine redemption narratives shape perceptions of mutual rescue between humans and dogs, reflecting broader themes of responsibility and redemption in society.
Pets
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

The pet I'll never forget: Beau, the labrador who saved my life

A labrador named Beau saved his owner's life after a cardiac arrest on the beach, showcasing the bond between pets and their owners.
Science
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

5 unlikely animal friendships that prove connection has no species barrier - Silicon Canals

Animals form deep, unexpected interspecies bonds that transcend instinct, demonstrating that genuine connection can override species boundaries and learned categories.
fromThe Washington Post
1 month ago

Punch the monkey isn't alone in bonding with his emotional support toy

Newborn mammals find comfort in contact, and rescue animals sometimes seek solace from fuzzy toys in the absence of their families, said Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Some adult animals might also look to toys for safety and companionship, according to Bekoff. 'It brings them joy, and it makes them feel good,' he said.
US news
US politics
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

How ICE Is Disrupting the Human-Animal Bond

Abrupt immigration enforcement severs human-animal bonds, causing lasting trauma, abandoned pets, and reluctance to seek veterinary care.
Medicine
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

The pet I'll never forget: Jack, the sacked sniffer dog, who pulled me through the darkest days of chemo

A retired police cocker spaniel provided companionship and practical emotional support during cancer treatment, giving structure, comfort, and unconditional love.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

The Reciprocal Relationships of Pets and Their Caregivers

Cats vocalize more frequently with male caregivers, suggesting a learned behavior to attract attention.
#joy
Pets
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

Dogs, Cats, and Other Nonhumans Are Not 'Just Animals'

A new book challenges speciesist narratives and promotes deeper respect for animals as sentient beings with powerful social bonds.
Mindfulness
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

How Listening to the Sound of Feathers Can Awaken True Joy

Attentive connection with nature nurtures creativity, compassion, and joy, fostering respect for nonhuman life and inspiring gentler, more flourishing communities.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

After being hit by a car, she was saved by a lavender bunny

Urban cycling dangers come primarily from other vehicles rather than terrain or weather.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals and the Need for Reform

Countless millions of nonhuman animals (animals) of all sorts are used in a diverse array of laboratory research. Their treatment varies from being unspeakably inhumanely abused to being treated with kindness, depending on the questions at hand and the values and attitudes of the researchers themselves. The lives of these animals truly are hidden, and most people are incredulous when they learn that laboratory rats and mice still are not considered "animals" under the current federal Animal Welfare Act.
Science
Pets
fromSilicon Canals
4 weeks ago

Psychology says people who sleep in the same bed as their dogs aren't substituting the dog for human intimacy - they're supplementing a human life with the one kind of companionship that asks for nothing, carries no grievances into the bedroom, and has never once in the history of the arrangement woken up on the wrong side - Silicon Canals

Co-sleeping with dogs provides comfort and security, enhancing relaxation and sleep quality for many pet owners.
Pets
fromwww.dw.com
4 weeks ago

Humans and dogs scientists find new proof of ancient bond

A female puppy from 15,800 years ago in Turkey is identified as the earliest-known dog, predating the previous record by 5,000 years.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Tool Use By Animals: Why the Hype and Why It's So Important

Recently, two unexpected examples by a wild wolf and a domesticated cow named Veronika attracted global attention and once again opened the door for experts and others to weigh in on the question, "Are these really examples of tooling?" Many people are eager to know more about the nitty-gritty details of tooling, so I am thrilled that Dr. Benjamin Beck, an expert in this area, could answer a few questions about this fascinating behavior.
Science
Pets
fromMail Online
1 month ago

How do dogs know how to get home? The science behind 'homing instinct'

Seven dogs escaped a meat factory in China and traveled 10 miles home, showcasing their remarkable homing instincts and sensory abilities.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Animal Consciousness: Behavioral Flexibility is Ubiquitous

Consciousness exists across diverse species including insects, demonstrating that humans are not uniquely conscious and behavioral flexibility indicates sentience in nonhuman animals.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Sleeping With Your Pet: Is It Really Good for Your Sleep?

Many pet guardians report comfort and relaxation from sleeping with pets, despite potential disruptions to sleep quality.
Psychology
fromLady Freethinker
2 months ago

The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence

Animal cruelty commonly co-occurs with interpersonal violence and serves as a strong early warning sign indicating elevated risk to both animals and people.
Pets
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The pet I'll never forget: Penny, the pigeon who never left my side

A rescued pigeon named Penny imprinted on her rescuer Hannah and remained her constant companion despite multiple attempts to reintegrate her with other pigeons.
#cat-behavior
Pets
fromMail Online
1 month ago

Cats turn their noses up at being helpful with humans and THIS is why

Cats rarely help humans find hidden objects unless the item benefits them directly, unlike dogs and toddlers who spontaneously assist regardless of personal reward.
Pets
fromMail Online
1 month ago

Face it, your cat doesn't care about you: Felines rarely help owners

Dogs and toddlers spontaneously help locate hidden objects, while cats rarely assist unless the item is their favorite treat or toy, reflecting differences in domestication and selective breeding for cooperation.
Pets
fromMail Online
1 month ago

Cats turn their noses up at being helpful with humans and THIS is why

Cats rarely help humans find hidden objects unless the item benefits them directly, unlike dogs and toddlers who spontaneously assist regardless of personal reward.
Pets
fromMail Online
1 month ago

Face it, your cat doesn't care about you: Felines rarely help owners

Dogs and toddlers spontaneously help locate hidden objects, while cats rarely assist unless the item is their favorite treat or toy, reflecting differences in domestication and selective breeding for cooperation.
Pets
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

5 signs your pet has chosen you as their favorite person in the household - Silicon Canals

Pets often form a primary attachment to one household member, showing favoritism through behaviors like following and seeking proximity.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Do Pets Make Their Owners Happy? New Study Says They Do Not

Pet ownership showed no measurable causal effect on life satisfaction, loneliness, mental health, or general health in analyzed Australian longitudinal data.
#dog-ownership
fromFortune
2 months ago
Pets

You love your dog too much. Blame the broken American Dream and loss of purpose since the pandemic | Fortune

fromFortune
2 months ago
Pets

You love your dog too much. Blame the broken American Dream and loss of purpose since the pandemic | Fortune

Pets
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

Research suggests that the specific warmth of a dog sleeping against your body activates the same oxytocin pathways as skin-to-skin contact with a partner, which is why people who sleep with their dog report feeling held even when they technically sleep alone - Silicon Canals

Dogs sleeping in bed with humans activate oxytocin pathways similar to intimate human contact, providing neurochemical benefits beyond emotional comfort.
Pets
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

For Your Pet To Thrive, Listen to What They're Asking of You

A love-centered, consent-based, animal-perspective holistic approach unlocks pets' natural healing, fostering vitality, balance, and empowered human-animal relationships.
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

Psychology says people who grieve a pet more intensely than they've grieved some relatives aren't being dramatic - the bond activates these 7 attachment pathways that human relationships often can't access, and the grief is unfiltered because the love was - Silicon Canals

The bond we form with our pets activates specific attachment pathways that human relationships often can't access, creating a grief that hits differently-not because we love our relatives less, but because the love we share with animals exists in its purest, most uncomplicated form.
Pets
Pets
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

Dog walkers say they learn more about a family from spending 30 minutes with their pet than most friends learn in years - these are the 7 things the dog reveals that the owner never would - Silicon Canals

Professional dog walkers can accurately assess families' personal circumstances and stress levels by observing behavioral changes in their pets, as dogs reflect their owners' emotional states and life conditions.
Pets
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

Psychology says people who prefer dogs over cats typically display these 8 distinct personality traits - Silicon Canals

Dog people are more extroverted and more agreeable, seeking social interaction and exhibiting trusting, altruistic traits linked to personality differences with cat owners.
Pets
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Looking for a small pet? Consider a domestic rat

Domesticated rats are clean, intelligent, social, affectionate pets that thrive with enrichment and companionship but have short lifespans of two to three years.
Pets
fromHuffPost
2 months ago

My Senior Dog Couldn't Walk Anymore. Before She Passed, She Led Me To My Husband.

Maya, a lifelong companion dog, remained a steadfast soulmate through relocations, crises, aging, paralysis, and persistent efforts to secure veterinary care.
Pets
fromScary Mommy
2 months ago

Is Preserving A Beloved Pet After Death "Creepy" - Or Just Another Way To Grieve?

A grieving owner chose pet taxidermy over cremation to preserve her dog's appearance after aggressive cancer and death.
Pets
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The pet I'll never forget: Harvey, the most human of cats who helped me through grief and illness

A cat named Harvey provided emotional support and comfort to a grieving family and later became a healing companion during the narrator's unexplained illness.
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

Vets can tell which dogs are truly thriving and which are just being "managed"-here are 7 signs they notice right away - Silicon Canals

Remember that moment at the dog park when you see two golden retrievers, with one bouncing around with bright eyes and a glossy coat, and the other just going through the motions with a dull expression despite being perfectly groomed? Both dogs are clearly loved and cared for, but something deeper separates them: It's the difference between a dog that's genuinely flourishing and one that's simply being maintained.
Pets
fromColumbus Ledger-Enquirer
2 months ago

Sweet Velcro Dog Refuses to Let His Favorite Person Work Alone

The clip opens with the dog sitting beside his mom on the couch while she works on her laptop. It's clear that the pup is deeply inconvenienced by his mom's working situation. Text above his head reads "Worst day ever," perfectly capturing the dramatic tone of what's to come. Within seconds, he side-eyes her to make sure she's paying attention, then begins softly whining, as if to say he's been patient long enough.
Pets
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