How Pets Help Us Heal — Real Stories from Indian Pet Parents

🐾 When love walks in on four legs…

Loss. Loneliness. Burnout. We all go through tough times.

But sometimes, healing doesn’t look like therapy sessions or long holidays.

Sometimes, it looks like a warm nose nuzzling your hand during a breakdown. Or a tail thumping against the floor when you come home feeling hollow.

In Indian homes where emotions often stay unspoken, our pets become the unspoken support system.

We asked real Indian pet parents to share how their furry companions helped them heal. Here are the stories that stayed with us.

❤️ 1. When Grief Felt Too Heavy to Carry Alone

Anushka, 29, Pune: “I lost my dad during the second wave of COVID. Everything felt meaningless. But Oreo, my indie pup, wouldn’t let me lie in bed all day. He brought me his toy every morning like, ‘You need to get up.’ That tiny routine… it saved me.”

💔 2. After the Breakup, Came Bark Therapy

Mihir, 25, Mumbai: “I moved out after a bad breakup. Alone in a 1BHK with zero will to cook or clean. Then I adopted Laila, a rescued lab mix. Suddenly, I had to show up — for her meals, her walks. And in showing up for her, I started showing up for myself.”

🧠 3. Silent Support Through Anxiety

Neha, 34, Delhi: “I deal with clinical anxiety. My cat, Mishti, isn’t trained to be an emotional support animal. But when I have a panic attack, she curls into my lap and purrs. That weight, that vibration — it grounds me like nothing else.”

💼 4. Career Burnout and a Beagle Named Bruno

Raghav, 38, Bangalore: “Start-up life was draining me. Long hours, constant pressure. I was snapping at my partner, losing sleep. Bruno forced me to log off by 8 PM — he needed his walk. That one habit changed my rhythm. I quit the toxic job months later.”

💫 5. Healing from Childhood Trauma

Aditi, 22, Kolkata: “Growing up in a dysfunctional family, I never felt safe. Now, with Bubbles (my golden retriever), I feel something I never did before — unconditional love. It’s helping me rebuild trust. With people, and with myself.”

🧡 What Do Pets Actually Do to Help Us Heal?

It’s not magic. It’s biology and behaviour:

• 🧠 Oxytocin boost: Cuddling pets releases the “love hormone” that lowers stress.
  
• 💤 Routine & sleep: Pets create daily rituals, improving consistency.
  
• 🤝 Non-judgemental companionship: Especially crucial for mental health struggles.
  
• 🧘‍♀️ Mindfulness cues: Pets live in the now. They remind us to, too.