Giant furry wonder drugs
I have a deep love of animals. But I think the reason I find dogs so wondrous is their millennia long relationship with humans. It’s a one of kind special inter-species bond like no other on the planet.
They’ve *evolved* to be able to read human facial expressions, gestures and body language. How cool is that? And to a certain extend vice versa (canine behaviourist here says humans have the ability to read dogs, just some don’t see the point. But I do!).
Anyway there are no 2 other species on earth with the capacity to decode one another in this way.
Their very derpy presence floods their carers’ systems with oxytocin. Myriad studies have shown that pet dogs improve mental health by boosting serotonin levels, particularly improving depression. Dogs can be trained to help visually impaired and blind people, which I still marvel at. As well as Assisted Therapy Animals (ATA) in schools, aged care centers, autism centers, and hospitals to lift mood and morale.
Plus, more recent studies have been showing the link between ATA and increased literacy rates in children with reading impairments. Why? Because some of these kids feel less judged reading to dogs than they do to other humans. Kids get it.
A dog’s company has also shown to lower blood pressure in elderly patients. The list goes on. They’re basically big furry walking wonder drugs. How could anyone not love them?
I don’t particularly trust anyone who doesn’t like dogs, but I try not to judge lol.
Do you like dogs? (There’s only one correct answer here).
Has a dog ever helped you through an emotionally turbulent time? (All answers are correct here).
#internationaldogday
