Hal Herzog, professor emeritus from Western Carolina University, said research indicates animals can trigger our brains and release chemicals in the same way that babies do. LISTEN: CBC Radio special Fur Babies explores out relationship with pets: CBC Radio Specials 48:39 Fur Babies What is it about our furry or scaly or feathered friends that keep us so attached? Hertzog pointed to an MRI-based study that examined how human brains reacted to photos of cute animals. "The same parts of your brain light up when you look at a cute animal as when you look at it in a baby," he said. Eileen Bona, a registered psychologist and founder of Dreamcatcher Ranch in Ardrossan, Alta., chalks it up to the unconditional love an animal can offer.

Source: CBC News September 05, 2022 19:29 UTC