Research shows dogs lower cortisol, reduce loneliness, and improve mood in measurable, science-backed ways.

Interacting with dogs releases oxytocin in both human and dog, so the bond is biological, not just emotional.

Rescue dog owners often report that the relationship changed their life, not just the dog's.

When you rescue a dog, the act of giving love is just as powerful as receiving it, and science backs that up.

People say they rescued their dog. But honestly, most rescue dog owners will tell you it went both ways. A common question in my house, asked in a cute voice to my dogs, is “Who rescued whom?”

There's something that happens when you open your home to an animal that's been abandoned, overlooked, or had a rough go of it. You think you're doing a good thing, and you are. But then months pass, and you look around and realize this dog has completely changed your life. A dog often changes your routine, your mood, and possibly even how you see yourself.

I'm a psychologist, and I am a person who understands what it feels like to want and sometimes need something to come home to. I can tell you that the way dogs affect us emotionally is real, it's profound, and the science actually backs it up.

When you interact with a dog, your brain releases oxytocin, which is the same hormone involved in human bonding, trust, and falling in love. And here's the coolest part—the dog's brain does too. In a landmark study, Nagasawa et al. (2015)........

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