Today, we want to celebrate the beloved pets that accompany their owners through many ups and downs over the years. We have put together a list of some of the cutest ‘then and now’ pics of critters posing with their favorite humans, showing just how loyal and loving they are; so scroll down to find the pictures below, but view them at your own risk – some of them might simply be too cute. Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with Dr. Anastasia Stellato, an Assistant Professor in Companion Animal Science at Texas Tech University, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about the human-animal bond. Be that as it may, all of the positives arguably outweigh the negatives; otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many choosing to share their home with a pet. According to the 2024 APPA (American Pet Products Association) National Pet Owners Survey, as many as 82 million households in the US own a pet. “In this way, they can live alongside us within our family units and take part in our day-to-day tasks and adventures, such as road trips, travel, social events, or hikes, for instance. In addition to a variety of other reasons, I believe this may explain why they are more popular compared to other animals,” the expert told Bored Panda. “[In addition to that,] owning a pet has been associated with reduced stress, improved physical health (cardiovascular health and survival rates), mental health (reduced feelings of loneliness, reduced reports of depression), and improved social skills and self-esteem.” “Promoting their welfare involves creating opportunities for positive experiences while reducing the negative experiences,” she explained, adding that research also found that animals experience an increase in oxytocin—happy hormone—during certain interactions with humans. In the interview with Bored Panda, Dr. Stellato emphasized that that is not only because of the aforementioned positive aspects of a strong human-animal bond, but also because it helps kids develop a sense of responsibility. “A sense of responsibility is achieved when they are held accountable to care for another being, especially when taught and expected to perform responsible pet care, such as cleaning, walking, feeding, grooming, or training.” Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
