If you don’t have a pet in your life, then all of the cute pics of animals online may fool you into thinking that animals are just that - cute little ornaments that you have to feed. Pets are so much more than that, however, and any pet owner will tell you that they can be full of love and friendship. We searched various online communities high and low to bring you some of the most wholesome pics of animals that we’ve ever seen.
Scientifically, there are a few different concepts governing how we form relationships with the animals we love. One is their level of domestication – the more domesticated an animal is, the likelier it is to be able to form affectionate social relationships with humans. Another is anthropomorphism – our predilection for assigning human motivations and ideas to uniquely animal behaviors.
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Came Home To My Roommate's Dog Protecting My Kitten From The Loud Thunder And Lightning Outside
They're Waiting In Line
This Is Luna. She's Not Usually Allowed On The Couch, But There Are Bigger Problems In The World, So She'll Be Right Here If You Need Her
Human relationships can be complex, so arguably, inter-species friendships can be even more complex. Instead of people with different personalities, perspectives and experiences, we have all of that plus different species with different wiring and capabilities.
I Feel Like It Was Saying "You First"
Two Years Ago We Rescued The Dirtiest, Most Diseased, And Starving Tripod Dog. Today He Is Gorgeous
A Cat Misses His Sister. He Sits Like This Every Day For Half An Hour. Animals Are Similar To Humans
So sad, not the first time I've seen an animal mourn. Don't understand the assumption that only humans experience loss this way. Anyone who studies animal behavior would tell them they are wrong.
One of the most recognizable pillars of human-animal relationships (though certainly not the only one) is domestication. But how does domestication happen? We’re all familiar with the quasi-scientific story of wolves scavenging human waste and somehow gradually transforming into modern dogs, but how did that actually happen? One long-term scientific experiment in Siberia has shown (and continues to show) us what that may have looked like.
A Family Meowed On My Door And I Adopted Them
The Little Thing Might Just Float Away
She’s An Old Lady, But When She Looks At Me Like This, She’s My Little Kitten Again
Just like our 15 yo dog. He's got dementia, sick kidneys - but haves the time of his life in his last months... and we spoil him ❤️
In 1959, Dmitri Belyaev initiated a long-term experiment that would use silver foxes to explore how domestication may have occurred in other mammals from generation to generation. Generation after generation of captive wild foxes were selected for breeding based on signs of agreeability to human contact. Within the earlier generations, the selection processes were as simple as whether or not the fox chose to bite an assistant’s gloved hand or whether or not they could be trained to eat from an assistant’s hand.
Orangutan Jungle School
Nothing Like The Soothing Feel Of A Wonderful Furry Baby
We Don’t Have Kids So My Wife And I Take Our Dog Around To Look At The Lights. He Loves It
Every year, I try taking my family to look at lights. However, it's been a bust since the kids are adults now. This year, I will take someone's pitty puppy instead!
I don't see a dog in this car, I see a furry child. Either way, he's adorable.
Love your pittie!! You have a child, all kids get that look at that time of year!! You have a 4-legged child!!
I used to take my very bad cats out on holiday excursions. Fat Sox, the 22+ pound tuxedo, hated everything and everyone, and looked always to start a fight- dogs, cats, crocodiles, policemen, Fat Sox didn't care, as long as he got teeth in and ripped flesh. Snowshoes, aka "Nosey", just wanted to drive the car. Always on the wheel. At 18+pounds of Maine Côôn, Nosey could actually drive, but his sense of traffic law and decorum left a lot to be desired. Safety, for one. And that bottle brush bushy bushy tail didn't taste good and was hard to see through. Every year until they passed I got standing ovations at the local charity Christmas light show. It's been almost 10 years now, and I'd give anything to have those knuckleheads back, just for a few minutes. I'd give all the life I have left to be hit with FatSoxs' annoyed left cross, or feel him force himself into my lap and rule. And Nosey, in the fridge, or jumping in the shower, or falling in the toilet. I'd give it all for just a bit.
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The look in that dog's eyes 🥰 he looks SO happy to be with his parents driving around looking at all the pretty lights. This is one of those pictures that needs to be printed and hung on their wall
They are as dear to us as our kids. We have a little cat named Bella on our property. My son-in-law found her at his recycling yard and she's 10yo now. My husband died almost 4 years ago now, and she's decided she's going to be my companion from now on. Sleeps with me every night, trails around behind me during the day.
Wonderful picture first of all. That face as precious as any child’s at Christmas.
My service dog (beautiful golden retriever) loved fish. We would take him to aquariums so he could look his fill! My baby went to aquariums from Hawaii - Louisiana and many States in between! My boy is gone, but we have so many fantastic memories. His joy was contagious and there so many strangers who smiled and laughed with us. I miss you my darling boy; Mama and daddy will see you again some day.
This boy is your child..and to me you all look like great parents!!💜
u have a kid right there and they can be just as expensive, except in my opinion, they love better than anyone can understand! And don't have verbal entitlement issues...
Since their kids are adults, my sister and her husband take their two dogs out to look at Christmas lights every year.
Awwwwwe. I f*****g love pitbulls! Look at that f*****g face!
I have two pups now, since all my old dogs have passed. They have such a short life, I try to give them the best possible life.
We have a second Cairn Terrier who LOVES lights too. People think you are exaggerating but you are not.
In a few generations, a broad range of surprising separate genetic changes began to take shape. In addition to behavioral tendencies, the foxes began to develop floppy ears, piebald fur patterns, adolescent features, and other characteristics that we associate today with cute and domesticated animals. And, most importantly, these once-wild and -fearful foxes were now friendly and eager to please, some even learning to play fetch.
My Girlfriend Put A Bird Feeder On Our Deck. This Bastard Ate Himself To Sleep
I Guess Not All Will Agree But I Found This Little Guy Quite Cute
I'm Currently In The Early Stages Of Labor And I Think They All Know It
As we’ve mentioned, domestication is not the only way that (once-wild) animals can form friendships with people. Some non-domesticated animals can also become friends with people under certain circumstances. One correlation is intelligence. Corvids, dolphins, and other intelligent creatures are regularly reported to understand human cues and form friendly, if not dependent, relationships. In other cases, wild animals with a natural tendency to form parental fixations or social relationships, like ducks, have formed social connections with people who’ve fit into their existing wild social behaviors.
A Real Gentle Giant
My Husband Comforting Our Kitten At The Vet
How My Cat Looks At My Boyfriend
Another common form of loose social relationship is when wild animals learn not to fear people based on simple reward psychology. In many national parks, for example, rangers caution visitors against feeding wild animals for precisely this reason. If visitors feed animals they see, the animals will learn not to fear people and to expect food from them, which can lead to dangerous situations.
This Is Truffles. She Works At A Children’s Optometrist To Help Them Feel Better About Wearing Glasses
I Brought One Of My Baby Bunnies To Meet My Great-Grandmother
Murphy, The Bald Eagle That Was Trying To Hatch A Rock, Has Been Given A Chick To Raise. Here He Is Feeding It
Many of the same ideas work for non-human inter-species friendships. Domestic animals are already well-equipped to form friendly and loving relationships with both people and animals, but what about inter-species friendships in the wild?
After Almost 1.5 Years Of Training, I Entered My 6-Year-Old Rescue Bully In His First Agility Competition. He Was The Only Pitbull-Type Dog There
Our Dog Has Hardly Left My Wife’s Side Since Baby Arrived. He’s A Proud Older Brother
Our Newest Rescue. She’s Afraid Of Men So My Husband Put A Blanket Down For Her To Choose When To Approach. She Laid By Him And Used His Head For A Pillow
Many such friendships are built on naturally occurring mutualistic tendencies. These are cases where certain species rely on one another to gain an advantage in their environment and both benefit from the exchange.
I Hope This Picture Will Brighten Your Day A Bit
I’ve Been Taken Hostage. Send Help
Sweet Support Dog Who Gives Comfort To Children At The Dentist, Priceless
One example is the oxpecker, a bird that loves to perch on the backs of various large mammals living in Africa. The birds find easy meals on the backs of zebra, wildebeest and other creatures as they feast on the various parasitic insects that these mammals attract. Their relatively gigantic friends also keep them safe from smaller predators, while the birds, in addition to providing a hygienic benefit, keep watch in all directions and can alert their larger hosts if any large predators or humans approach.
I Often Substitute Teach At A Small Farm Town Nearby. Here's The Agriculture Class's Current "Project"
She was born premature, close to 2 lbs when most are born closer to 10 lbs.
The Gang
When You Tell Her A Story That She Doesn't Understand, But She Loves You Anyway
Now That’s A Great Place To Be
Proton Celebrated Her Sweet Sixteen Today
Went To The Beach Feeling Bad About Having To Hang Alone, This Cutie Decided To Join Me Out Of Nowhere And Helped Me Feel Much Better
Precious Golden Retriever Allows Lost Koala Joey To Snuggle With Her
A lost koala Joey has been found snuggled onto the back of a family's golden retriever. The Joey is believed to have been lost and found it way onto the family's back porch and used the golden for warmth.
The golden is believed to have allowed Joey to spend the entire night on her back before the family found her like this the following morning.
Someone At The Purrfect Day Cat Cafe In Louisville, KY Filling Out The Paperwork To Take This Kitty Home
My Brother Is In Another State Right Now Due To His Job. His Wife Decided To Set Up A Skype Date For Him And His Dog
Love Comes In All Different Shapes And Sizes
My Cat Is A Very Proud Mom
He Likes To Monch. It’s Gonna Be A Loooooong Car Ride
My Wife's Grandma Passed In Her Room Yesterday With All Of Us Around. My Dog Always Protected Her While She Was Lonely. He's Been Looking For His Friend All Day
I Met This Adorable Guy Today. Cuteness Overload
One Of The Most Unique Friendships We've Ever Seen
Flat Tire
One Of The Kittens In Our Neonate Center At Work Decided To Show Off The Beans
Little Bear
My Mother Insisted We Put A Bindi On My Bird To Celebrate Diwali
I don't know a lot about bindis but I know that the bird certainly looks amazing in it
My Cat Showed Up At My House Like This Today. Apparently, We Have A Cat Lover In Our Street
My Wife Is Three Weeks Away From Her Due Date And Our Cats Love Snuggling Her Belly
This Is My Boyfriend's Office, He Works From Home. Here Are All Of The Socks She Brought Up From The Basement To The Third Floor For Him Today
Couldn't Figure Out Why My Music Kept Pausing
Note: this post originally had 150 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
At home in bed with a chest infection. This made me feel a while lot better!
~and in tonight’s news, Pandaville citizen GhostlySnail has died after smiling so much she broke her jawbone…~
❤️❤️❤️ In this world today we definitely need more of this. Animals Are the BEST, LOVE them all, much better than the so called human.
Since the owner willingly left the items in the home, He obviously knew that they would bling to whom ever purchased his home! The relativs of the former home owner has NO RIGHTS TO ANYTHING THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER LEFT ! I’d refer them to their relative that formerly lived there! If they continue to be a bother to you, go see an attorney, or the sheriff! I hope this helps in some way! Happy new home day! Debbe’ 💞
Usually on pages like this there are a few photos that either don't fit or I just don't care for. This time around it was 100% love all the way.
At home in bed with a chest infection. This made me feel a while lot better!
~and in tonight’s news, Pandaville citizen GhostlySnail has died after smiling so much she broke her jawbone…~
❤️❤️❤️ In this world today we definitely need more of this. Animals Are the BEST, LOVE them all, much better than the so called human.
Since the owner willingly left the items in the home, He obviously knew that they would bling to whom ever purchased his home! The relativs of the former home owner has NO RIGHTS TO ANYTHING THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER LEFT ! I’d refer them to their relative that formerly lived there! If they continue to be a bother to you, go see an attorney, or the sheriff! I hope this helps in some way! Happy new home day! Debbe’ 💞
Usually on pages like this there are a few photos that either don't fit or I just don't care for. This time around it was 100% love all the way.
