Notes from Youville
Notes from Youville: The Case for Animal Friendships
Humans and animals can comfort each other in sickness and in health.
A few years ago, archeologists dug up a 12,000-year-old human skeleton in Israel. This prehistoric Israelite had been laid to rest with his favorite wolf pup, and the skeleton was found with the hand of the human resting on the head of the dog. This may be the oldest surviving record of our human capacity for affection toward animals. Twelve millennia later, our propensity to love our pets – whether they are furry, four legged, have gills, beaks, or slither about in a cage – is just as strong as it was in ancient times. What we know today, is that there is a growing body of research that shows that our love for animals is good for us and can even be linked to health benefits. Pets and Health Studies show that if you’re preoccupied …
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