Need a Sweetheart this Valentine's Day? Adopt a Furry Valentine from DeKalb Animal Services, and Learn the Real Meaning of True Love!

By Karen Hirsch

Nobel Prize winner and poet Anatole France said it best: “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

You probably know that our pets love us, don’t judge us and have positive effects on our physical and mental health, but recent research suggests that dogs may love us in a more human way than we’ve ever realized before.

Scientists at Emory University measured the neural responses of dogs using an MRI machine. Scientists trained dogs to lie still in MRI machines and then had them smell the aromas of various humans and canines. Whenever dogs smelled the scent of their humans or saw their humans return from another room, the caudate nucleus or “reward center” of their brains lit up.

Scientists also found increased activity in regions of dogs’ brains associated with attachment, empathy and a “theory of mind” in response to their owners. A “theory of mind” is a belief system about what others think and is continually updated. So, dogs apparently wonder what their owners are thinking about. According to Gregory Berns, the scientist behind this research, the dogs’ ability to experience positive emotions, like love and attachment, mean that dogs have a level of sentience comparable to that of a human child. And this ability suggests a rethinking of how we treat dogs.

Additional studies conducted by researchers at the University of London, tested dogs’ understanding of human emotions. They placed dogs in a room with people who were crying, people who were talking and people who were humming. They found that the dogs were much more likely to approach and submit to a person who cried. According to the researchers, the dogs’ response to weeping wasn’t the result of curiosity but was based on a primitive understanding of human emotions.

All this suggest that dogs (and many cats) can provide true love, devotion and adoration, so why not bring some love into your life by adopting a pet from DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS)? Now is a great time, because during LifeLine Animal Project’s “My Furry Valentine” promotion, you may adopt any dog or cat, ages six months and up, from DCAS for only $14! This promotion runs through the end of February, and the adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip and more! Regular screening applies to ensure all animals go to good homes.

DeKalb County Animal Services Pet of the Week: Jackson

One of the amazing dogs you can adopt for only $14 is Jackson. This sweet two-and-a-half year old boy is very gentle and well-behaved. Jackson will love and adore you and brighten your life! He enjoys cuddling and snuggling with people and also gets along well with other dogs. Jackson has been at the shelter for far too long and is ready to go home. He would make a wonderful companion for some lucky person. To meet Jackson, please drop by the shelter, email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.comor call (404) 294-2165. To view other great animals available for adoption, visitwww.dekalbanimalservices.com.