Science | Animal Advocacy
Why We Like Animals More Than People
And science says it has nothing to do with their lack of judgment or surplus of unconditional love.
“In a survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, 40 percent of married female dog owners reported they received more emotional support from their pet than from their husband.” — Hal Herzog in Wired
Phew — glad I’m not alone there.
I had my own hypothesis here as to why furry, non-human creatures top my emotional priority list. And as a triple-fur-mom, I believed I had earned my seat at the table of expert animal enthusiasts.
What I thought might not be too far off from your assumptions — if you’re either an animal lover or just a common-sensical person. I believed the reasons some (ahem: many) humans may indicate a preference for non-human animals over those of their own species came down to a multitude of characteristics these animals possess.
What I thought furbabies have over humans — I was wrong.
- Non-judgmental
- Willing companions
- Endless gratitude
- Unearned respect and adoration
