The Science of Connection
Sharing our lives with animals is a privilege.
They bring both comfort and chaos into our homes—and leave an indelible mark on our hearts. We co-regulate not just with our human beloveds, but with our pets.
Science backs this up: when we gaze into our dog’s eyes, our bodies release oxytocin—the same love hormone that surges between a mother and child. That quiet look from your pet? It’s not just sweet—it’s chemically soothing.
Just having your fur buddy in the room can lower your blood pressure, ease anxiety, and help with depression. That warm rush you feel when cuddling your cat or dog isn’t in your head—it’s real. And it’s healing.
Animals naturally pull us into the present moment, offering a kind of mindfulness without requiring a meditation cushion. They anchor us. They slow us down. And for some—especially those with PTSD—therapy animals can even improve sleep and reduce traumatic symptoms.
Our Chosen Family
Pets enrich our lives in ways we can’t always explain.
They are not “just animals.”
They are companions, confidants, family—our chosen ones.
At certain points in our lives, they may even be our only lifeline—the ones who pull us back into care, who give us a reason to get out of bed, who sit beside us when we can’t speak.
They remind us how to love. How to soften. How to keep going.
The Cruel Gift of Choice
But—except for parrots and tortoises, who often outlive us—our pets don’t stay nearly long enough.
A dear friend once said to me, “It’s the tragedy of our lives that we outlive our animals.”
With our human beloveds, we are often at the mercy of time. We may wish we could take away their pain, but we rarely have the power to choose when their suffering ends.
With our animals, we’re given that choice.
We are handed the excruciating task of deciding when to let them go.
To ask: Is today the day I lose you? Release you? Say goodbye?
Or… do you have one more day in you?
It is brutal. And it is heartbreakingly beautiful.
When I had to say goodbye to my cat, Bodhi, I held her in my arms, whispering through tears,
“I love you, my little one. Thank you for being in my life. I’ll miss your kisses.”
I was not ready. I would never be ready.
But she was.
Her body had given up, and I could feel that she was only holding on for me—waiting for my permission to let go.
There is nothing as cruel.
And there is nothing as tender as giving your beloved peace, even as your own heart breaks.
It is the ultimate act of love. The forever gift. The most selfless thing we can do.
And I would do it again and again—for the love I shared with my fur babies.
It is always awful.
And it’s always worth it.
This Is Why I Made PETS
This kind of love is exactly what inspired my new film, PETS, premiering on Disney+ April 11.
It’s a celebration of the deep, often surprising ways animals change us. Save us. Heal us.
This film is for anyone who’s ever loved an animal and grieved one too.
Have You Been There Too?
Have you ever had to make this choice?
How did you know it was time?
What did your goodbye look like?
If you feel called, I’d love to hear your story below in the comments. Let’s honor them together.
Elisabeth Jamison, a MindBody Grief Coach, is a certified Life Coach, Pilates instructor, and Reiki practitioner. With a background as an award-winning filmmaker, she loves sharing stories and insights with a wider community. Deeply committed to helping others navigate grief’s emotional and physical impacts, she believes that true healing emerges when we honor both heart and body.