As Long As You Don’t Love An Animal, Your Soul Will Be Asleep

Until you discover what it means to love an animal, you will not have been able to understand what is nobility and the awakening of emotions that can heal the soul. To give love to a dog, a cat or any living being, however small, restless and singular, is to enrich yourself and discover that they can have feelings as valuable as ours.

We’ve all read countless times about the benefits of having a pet at home. Now, what’s even more interesting is finding that all of this has a clear impact on public health economics. According to several surveys, animals save us several visits to the doctor, which helps health save about 3 million euros a year in countries like Germany and Austria.

Each one of us could relate with great affection that moment when someone very special came home and turned it inside out. Just like with our hearts. Something awakens in us when we adopt a dog, when we rescue a kitten from the street, hungry, dirty and in need of affection.

It’s as if a light from deep inside turns on, as if a peculiar mechanism moves the gears of change to help us be better people too.

The animal “remedy” and miraculous therapies

We will start by telling the case of Claudia, an Alzheimer’s patient who had lost interest in the world. No activity that she performed in her home produced any change in her state, except one: when sociocultural animation technicians brought 4 female dogs trained for this type of therapy.

Claudia preferred one of the bitches. Just by seeing her, his gaze would light up and his energy would awaken to connect strongly to reality. It never failed. Second later, this patient took this animal in her arms, kissed it and told it countless things. Thanks to this interaction, it was possible to reduce the administration of various remedies aimed at physical, cognitive and emotional responses. Animals are real medicine for people.

According to a study published in the journal “Frontiers in Psychology” this “awakening” may be related to the activation of oxytocin, known as the hormone of love, affection and affection. When their levels increase, a series of psychological and psychophysiological triggers appear that favor people to be more present and, in turn, to be more receptive to anything that involves emotional aspects (hugs, caresses, affectionate words…).

The look of our animals

Sometimes an animal can even make a better emotional connection with the gaze than a person.

An animal has a truly incredible emotional connection, whether through a simple gesture or a look. In fact, it is known that eye contact between a dog and its owner is so genuine and sincere that, thanks to this, the bond between them is strengthened.

According to an interesting research published in the journal “ Science ”, dogs recognize a person’s smile, show empathy and even know how to interpret our emotions just by looking us in the eye. All this would be the result of so many years of common evolution, in which an exceptional bond was created that goes beyond race or size. It emerges directly from the genes and the heart.

We become what we see in the eyes of our pets

They say that our dog’s gaze is the best mirror to see the reflection of our own souls. It is a truth so true that it deserves our attention.

• If any of the animals we’ve bred dodge and their eyes reflect fear, there’s sure to be something that’s not right. Fear feeds on a negative emotional impact.
• Now, few things can be as therapeutic as coming home discouraged and with tears burning like grains of sand in your eyes and suddenly finding yourself reflected in the gaze of your own dog or cat. It’s as if they hugged us and told us that “it’s going to be all right”.

• For our animals we are the most beautiful thing in their world and this is not just about the need for food. They also need affection.
• The look of an animal serves as a mirror to foster our “self-acceptance”. His sincere eyes offer us another perspective with which to put problems, anxieties and stress into perspective. It is enough to embrace them and soon the world returns to its equilibrium.

This wonderful dose of oxytocin that our pets give us allows us to reconnect with reality, to combine affection with dreams to overcome the clouds of everyday life more safely. Because we’re all “a little asleep” until we’ve discovered what it’s like to love an animal.