Why Broken People Connect with Animals

Ever noticed how the most passionate animal lovers seem to have been through stuff? I’m not talking about the “I cried when Mufasa died” kinds; I mean the kind of people who dedicate their lives to feeding, rescuing, and cuddling creatures who, let’s be honest, have no idea we exist.

As someone who’s deeply entrenched in the animal volunteering scene, I can confidently say that my people have seen it all. Heartbreaks, betrayals, existential crises, you name it. I’m part of this massive group of animal welfare volunteers, and if you peeked into our collective histories, you’d find enough emotional baggage to fuel an entire season of The Game of Thrones

Animals Are My Therapists

Animals are like emotional first-aid kits. Studies have shown that spending time with animals can reduce cortisol levels and increase oxytocin. This is why therapy dogs are a thing and why scrolling through Instagram and liking a million cat memes at 3 am feels oddly therapeutic.

There are research papers to back my claim. They say that interacting with animals lowers blood pressure, helps with depression, and even improves cardiovascular health. So yeah, loving animals is more of a survival tactic than a quirky personality trait.

Why Broken People Love Animals More

Think about it, You’re emotionally drained after life hands you one too many lemons. Unlike others who turn to retail therapy, while others binge-watch Netflix in their PJs and some fill their emptiness with food, you look at animals and think, “Finally, someone who gets me.”

Animals don’t judge you for who you are. They love you unconditionally, no matter how many mistakes you’ve made. And for people like us who’ve been burned, beaten, or just straight-up disappointed by humans, that kind of loyalty is quite rare.

One study published in the JAMA Network Open found that women who’ve experienced childhood trauma often have stronger bonds with their pets (especially dogs) and this pet-human bond is associated with lower anxiety and depression levels.

It’s like animals fill the voids that humans left behind. They’re not just pets but friends, parents, life coaches, therapists, and sometimes the only reason we get out of bed in the morning (Although it’s mostly because my dog wakes me up for her walk haha!)

Picture an image of an emotionally battered, tired individual who’ve been ghosted by significant people, let down by parents, or blindsided by life itself. But instead of wallowing, we are motivated to channel all that pain into rescuing puppies, feeding stray cats, and educating people about how animals are our saviours. Sometimes, we just bite our lips and stay silent when some entitled know-it-all questions our actions.

Sure! we might cry for all the animals we couldn’t help, but we’re also the first ones to roll up our sleeves when a dog needs rescuing at 2 AM.

Its is not about just saving animals; its about saving ourselves in the process

Is There a Scientific Explanation for This “Madness”?

Turns out, there is. Empathy is like a muscle that you work it out through hardship. And when humans let us down, it’s only natural to gravitate towards the pure, unfiltered love of an animal who doesn’t care if you’re unemployed or have become a blubber covered seal or snot sobbing on your sweatshirt .

So, yeah, maybe we’re all a little broken. Maybe life has kicked us down so many times that we’ve started finding comfort in helping animals who resonate with us. I have personally put myself in a stray dog’s point of view:

• Don’t have somebody to rely on? Check.
• Denied all the things you deserve? Check.
• Roaming around sick, hoping somebody will take you to the hospital? Check.

But honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Because in a world that’s often cruel and chaotic, animals remind us that love doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a dog resting its head on your lap or a cat curling up next to you. And if being “broken” means I get to experience that kind of love, then sign me up for the lifetime membership.
anyway, bye! See ya soon.

And Here are the links to the papers that are referenced above, feel free to check them out 

Wells, D. L. (2019). The State of Research on Human–Animal Relations: Implications for Human Health. Anthrozoös, 32(2), 169–181. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2019.1569902

Pet Attachment and Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Women

Magdalena Żebrowska, PhD1,2; Susanne Strohmaier, PhD2; Curtis Huttenhower, PhD3,4,5,6; et alA.

JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2424810. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.24810

Greenberg DM, Baron-Cohen S, Rosenberg N, Fonagy P, Rentfrow PJ. Elevated empathy in adults following childhood trauma. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 3;13(10):e0203886. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203886. PMID: 30281628; PMCID: PMC6169872.