Imagine this: You’ve had a brutal day. Work drained the last bit of patience you had, traffic was a nightmare, and your brain feels like it’s been running a marathon without your permission. You open the door, and there’s your dog—wiggling with so much excitement it’s like they just won the lottery. Or maybe your cat gives you that signature slow blink, the universal feline way of saying, “You exist, and I tolerate you.” And just like that, the weight on your shoulders lifts. Your breathing slows. Your mood shifts. Coincidence? Nope. Science backs it up. Pets aren’t just cute—they’re living, breathing, tail-wagging (or tail-swishing) stress relievers. So why isn’t society taking them seriously as mental health allies? Let’s talk about it. The Science Doesn’t Lie—Pets Are Basically Furry Therapists Society loves to push expensive self-care trends. One year it’s CBD everything, the next it’s ice baths, and now people are paying how much for those weighted stuffed animals? Meanwhile, the ...