@elijahfs
Yes, pets (especially dogs and cats) possess an independent emotional needs system, supported by extensive scientific research.Studies show they experience primary emotions like joy, fear, attachment, and distress, driven by brain structures (e.g., amygdala, oxytocin pathways) similar to humans.Key evidence:Dogs form secure attachment bonds with owners, showing separation anxiety when apart (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016815911830234X)
Cats display distinct emotional responses and social bonding behaviors (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00398/full)
Oxytocin levels rise in both pets and owners during positive interactions, mirroring human parent-child bonding (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1205791109)
In short, pets have genuine, self-sustaining emotional needs — not just conditioned responses.
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