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Having a mother of a day? Tired of the state of the world? Looking for something to cheer you up? Then look no further than this seriously wholesome list of happy animal memes. Compiled by Bored Panda, the cute photos below are guaranteed to turn your frown upside down.
And it's all scientific! It is known that petting adorable animals or even looking at one releases oxytocin - your happiness hormone. Besides making you happy, animals are also great at relieving stress and making you feel calmer. In short - the cuteness overload from these happy animal photos you're about to experience is even more positive than you could've thought.
But, enough of the sciency stuff. From smiling frogs and cutest dogs to friendly sea lions and ratatouille-loving rats, your troubles will soon disappear when you feast your eyes upon this happy and uplifting bunch of cute critters. Let us know which happy animal pics are your favorites, and don't forget to vote for the most wholesome ones!

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    #2

    Sleeping Buddy

    Cow peacefully napping on a person's legs in a sunny field, representing happy animal memes to bring a smile.

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    Why Do Happy Animal Memes Make Us Smile?

    Although it might seem that these happy, funny animals make us smile simply because they’re so silly, the actual cause lies deep in the human condition. That’s right—happy animal photos and their powers of cheering us up lie in human psychology and behavior. Let us explain: 

    For one, humans tend to mirror the emotions they see. This is called emotional contagion. So, when we see an animal that appears to be joyful, it might trigger the very same emotions in us. Another reason why these happy animal memes are so appealing to us is the “cute factor.” Whenever we see a cute animal, preferably one with big, round eyes and fluffy fur, it instantly triggers nurturing instincts and positive feelings. This phenomenon, too, has a specific name and is known as the “baby schema.” And lastly, looking at happy animal pics provides us with a momentary distraction from our woes, thus relieving stress and anxiety

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    All in all, happy animal memes might be the best thing on the internet. They can improve mood, relieve stress, and give us a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. So why not check out the rest of this list? 

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    #5

    A Helpful Paw

    A happy animal meme of a dog helping people push a van in floodwater.

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    #6

    The Most Important Things

    Cats snuggled in a suitcase among clothes and a laptop, with a caption about packing essentials for vacation. Happy animal memes.

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    #7

    Everyone's Best Friend

    Happy animal meme with capybaras being friendly with various animals.

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    #8

    Happiest Little Frog

    Happy animal meme: a frog in a cup looking surprised, then content after being complimented.

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    #9

    Otterly Amazing

    Otter holding pipes underwater with text about space, featuring a playful animal meme.

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    #10

    Cutest Friends

    Woman laughing with a donkey, creating a happy animal meme moment.

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    #11

    Charming Tiny Gentleman

    Adorable puppy walking with a branch in its mouth on a sidewalk, showcasing happy animal vibes.

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    John L
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ......when all he wants is just a quiet "Thank you Sweetie!"

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    #12

    Smiling Ear To Ear

    Group photo with a smiling dog sitting front and center, taking the spotlight in this happy animal meme.

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    #14

    Thoughtful Pupper

    Cute happy dog with a pine cone, trying to cheer someone up.

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    #15

    Bestest Citizen

    Happy animal meme with a cat lying on its back, paws covering its belly, exuding a sense of decency.

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    #16

    Cutest Owlfit

    Cute owl wearing a purple shirt, sitting on a sofa, creating a happy animal meme atmosphere.

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    LittleGirlWithShortLegs
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think i just teared up a little. I didn't know I could do that just from looking at a picture.

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    #17

    Instant Best Friends

    A dog and kitten cuddled up together on a brown couch, showcasing happy animal companionship.

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    Burcu Erbakan
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are so terribly cute, I wanna kiss them and squeez them and cuddle them...

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    #19

    Wholesome Meme

    Polar bear mom carrying cub in playful winter scene, a happy animal meme to make you smile.

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    김지수
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "We found him!" "Really, where?" "He's on your..." "Yes?" "He's on your... uh..." "Tell me!"

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    #20

    Perfect Spot To Chill

    Fluffy puppy sleeping on a car dashboard, bringing joy with happy animal vibes.

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    #21

    Goodest Boy

    A happy dog sitting in a car seat with a caption about likes and petting, part of funny happy animal memes.

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    #23

    Always There When You Need Them

    Cute dog with a napkin, part of happy animal memes, snuggled in a gray blanket.

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    Lord Beerus
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We trained our rats to do that, rats are actually really smart

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    #24

    Cutest Rescue Crew

    A dog with a goat kid in a backpack in snowy terrain, showcasing a playful animal meme.

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    Burcu Erbakan
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This was in Turkey, once in a while something good happens too...

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    #26

    Adorable Presents For Adorable Neighbors

    Happy animal meme showing a squirrel receiving tiny Christmas presents outside a window.

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    #28

    Adorable Encounter

    Happy animal meme featuring a seal and a dog on a beach, with seal playfully interacting with the dog.

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    #29

    Positive Role Models

    Rat watching a happy animal meme video on TV, inspired by "Ratatouille" for positive role models.

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    #33

    Independent Doggo

    Happy animal meme of a dog walking itself with a leash in its mouth, showcasing independence.

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    HumanBeing
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a bit sad, but the owner is probably following him. If he's not... *Calls police*

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    #34

    Spending Time With Loved Ones

    Happy animal meme featuring two birds wrapped in blankets next to fake candles, conveying warmth and love.

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    John L
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When ur parakeets have just taken a bath, and its still a bit cold, they can always use a little extra warmth. :D

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    #35

    Cutest Employee

    Dog dressed as a pilot pulling a suitcase, creating a happy animal meme at the airport.

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    John L
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fly the Friendly Skies of Uni..............Wait a minute!

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    Note: this post originally had 111 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.