emotional support
- lifestyle
How 5 Pet Parents’ Lives Had a Glow-Up After They Got Their Pets
Turns out finding community isn’t so hard when you’ve got a cute pal to help get you out of the house.
![two girls bonding over a cute fluffy dog]()
- lifestyle
“Griffin’s Heart” Should Be Your Go-To Grief Guide
A pet-loss workbook sounds corny, but this gentle, realistic book lets you go at your own pace to heal.
![Woman hugging her dog while sitting on the couch.]()
- lifestyle
5 Science-Backed Ways to De-Stress Outdoors (Your Pet Is Invited)
The author of Return to Nature on the mental health benefits of getting out into various natural landscapes with your pup.
![A woman holding a dog in her arms while looking at a scenic view of the sea.]()
- lifestyle
Kelsey Darragh’s Pit Bull, Hippo, Is Her True Soulmate
The filmmaker, comedian, and mental health advocate’s boyfriend didn’t want to adopt their foster pup. She ditched the guy and kept the dog.
![Kelsey Darragh with her dog Hippo]()
- lifestyle
Loneliness Is a Public Health Crisis. Pets Can Help
Per the US Surgeon General, loneliness is as dangerous for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Here are ways pets can solve that.
![two people bonding and smiling over a dog]()
- lifestyle
Pirate the Pit Bull Is Asha Leo’s “Person”
How the Pit Bull advocate is bolstered by her Instagram-famous psychiatric support dog.
![Asha Leo walks with her psychiatric service dog, Pirate, on a trail]()
- lifestyle
FYI, Pets Are Incredibly Good For Your Mental Health
This Mental Health Awareness Month, experts share the science-backed ways our pets offer us emotional support.
![Valentin Pujadas illustration]()
- lifestyle
Shockingly, Your Pet Will Enhance Your Mindfulness Practice
The next time they try to kiss your face while you’re in corpse pose, let them.
![A woman holding a cat close to her while sitting on a yoga mat.]()
- lifestyle
Add The Street Vet’s New Book to Your Summer Reading List
What It Takes to Save a Life: A Veterinarian’s Quest for Healing and Hope will help you see pet parenthood with new eyes.
![Dr. Kwane Stewart and a large black dog.]()
- lifestyle
How to Take Your Dog On a Mindful Nature Walk
Wellness experts and animal trainers agree: a tuned-in spring outing can be restorative for both people and pets.
![A woman walking with her dog in a garden.]()
- lifestyle
How Artist Grace Miceli’s Dog, Tony, Helps Her Deal
“I was like, ‘How can I draw myself without drawing my actual self?’ We have this sort of symbiotic relationship — he’s become this character that I’m able to explore things through...”
![grace miceli and tony]()
- lifestyle
Do You Have the Puppy Blues?
Don’t worry: It’s normal to feel sad or anxious after welcoming a new puppy into your life.
![Woman holding little english bulldog puppy in her hands and they are looking each other.]()
- lifestyle
These Organizations Support Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Pets
Learn how you can support their efforts.
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- lifestyle
How My Dog Helps Me Stay Sober
Brie reminds me that my sobriety is so much bigger than myself.
![Illustration of woman holding mug and dog sitting amongst leaves]()
- behavior
5 Places Where Therapy Dogs Do Their Best Work
At airports, hospitals, schools, and more, therapy dogs make things better.
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- lifestyle
Chemistry Between People and Pets Is Real (It’s Science)
How the “love hormone” oxytocin connects us with our pups.
![Man hugging his fluffy white dog happily]()
- lifestyle
Pet Parents Get Separation Anxiety, Too
We asked both animal behaviorists and human psychologists how you can deal with leaving your dog home alone.
![Woman holding her dog beside a window in bright morning light]()
![A woman laying on a zig zag patterned blanket while curling around her brown and white dog]()
- lifestyle
What People Can and Can’t Ask You About Your Service Dog
The questions will come, so you should be prepared with answers.
![A woman sitting on a plane smiling at a dog on her lap.]()
- lifestyle
10 Places Where Your ESA Is — and Is Not — Allowed
Not every public place allows ESAs — but there are ways to advocate for yourself and your needs when your pup or other ESA is not on the guest list.
![A redheaded woman in a black hat and sunglasses holding her pug dog under her arm as well as two boarding passes and her passport in an airport hallway]()
- lifestyle
8 Practical and Healing Ways to Remember Your Pet After They Pass
Even though it’s the last thing you want to think about.
![A woman laying on the bed with her Golden Retriever dog laying next to her]()
- lifestyle
How Service Dogs Can Ease Veterans’ PTSD
According to a study, trained service dogs can interrupt panic attacks, wake veterans from nightmares, and more.
![A service dog for PTSD walking outside looking up at the camera]()
- lifestyle
Uvalde Students Have Some New Pals Going Back to School With Them: Dogs
How Golden Retrievers are helping Uvalde, TX, students return to class after the May 2022 tragedy.
![Two young boys hugging a comfort dog on the pavement outside]()
- lifestyle
How to Take Silly Little Mental Health Hikes With Your Dog
It’s good for you both — promise.
![A man with a dog on a hike stoping to enjoy a beautiful overlook on a cliff.]()
- lifestyle
Forget Goat Yoga. Jessamyn Stanley Practices With Her Pets
Turn those barks and meows into namastes.
![African American woman with floral arm tattoos and short curly hair laughing with joy while holding her small Chihuahua dog outside]()
- lifestyle
You Can’t Fly With Your Your ESA, But Your PSD Is Welcome on a Plane
Find out how here, including what the heck those acronyms mean.
![Backlit photo of a woman seated on an airplane holding her dog in her lap while they both look out of the open window.]()
- behavior
Does Your Pet Need Therapy?
Dogs and cats can’t read self-help books, so a veterinary behaviorist explains how your pet may benefit from being in treatment.
![A woman sitting on a couch with a dog.]()
- lifestyle
Sustainable Pet Parenting Can Be Stressful. Here’s How to Deal
A climate psychologist on how to deal with eco-anxiety: “We have to be good to ourselves the way we want to be good to the planet.”
![A woman laying on a bed with her dog with green palm wallpaper in the background.]()
- lifestyle
The Only Star More Fierce Than Shea Couleé? Her Pomeranian, Baby
The Drag Race All Star on astrology, mental health, and the importance of pets to people in the LGBTQ+ community:
“Baby has no idea about my public persona. She literally just loves me exactly for who I am.”![Shea Coulee in makeup and a white robe and hair towel wrap holding her Pomeranian dog Baby]()
- lifestyle
Jess Tran and Her Rescue Dog Are Healing Together
The creative guru on taking her dog to therapy, finding community at the dog park, and the “spiritual journey” of pet parenthood.
![Jess Tran laying in a bed looking lovingly at her dog.]()
- lifestyle
5 Ways Minna Lee and Her Corgi Prioritize Their Collective Mental Health
The wellness entrepreneur on living with and learning from her anxious dog, from taking breaks to setting boundaries.
![Minna Lee smiling at the camera while holding her dog, Benny the Corgi, who is dressed in a Sherlock Holmes Halloween costume]()
- lifestyle
How Alison Wu’s Dog Is a Positive Force for Her Mental Health
The lifestyle blogger and creative director’s Spaniel helps her stay grounded:
“When life gets inevitably turbulent, Tilly offers me much-needed stability, support, and calm.”![Woman laying on tan couch beneath large windows showing trees and sunshine with her dog laying beneath her]()
- lifestyle
Gemma Correll Talks Pug Life and Mental Health
How the illustrator’s rescue dogs improve her psychological well-being. (Spoiler: Pugs make pretty great weighted blankets.)
![Gemma Correll smiling and holding up her one-eyed Pug dog against a red backdrop]()
- lifestyle
How My Dog Helped Me Get Through the Pandemic Alone
“She was my lockdown companion, but I had to learn to slowly navigate my fears and anxiety without her as my constant companion.”
![Dog and Woman looking out window moodily]()
- lifestyle
Rafael Mantesso’s Muse, Jimmy, Helped Him Draw A New Path
The Insta-famous Brazilian illustrator on making art, living with autism, and loving a Bull Terrier.
![Rafael Mantesso & Jimmy]()
- lifestyle
Doctor’s Orders: Get a Dog
Harvard scientists confirm the myriad physical and psychological benefits of pet parenthood.
![Happy young woman in yoga clothes holding small tan dog in park]()
- lifestyle
Photographer Bridget Badore & Queso Share Zodiac Signs, Personal Spaces, Lots of Feelings
“When I bring out my camera she tries to fight me, which is a shame because she really does know how to find her light.”
![Bridget Badore holding her cat]()
- health
Please Be Nice To Your Vet
Veterinarians love their jobs, but it’s not all puppy kisses and kitten purrs. We asked Wildest expert Dr. Zay how pet parents can forge a healthy, honest, and sustainable relationship with their vet.
![A smiling veterinarian holding a cat]()
- lifestyle
Flying with An Emotional Support Animal
Are ESA alpacas and peacocks mocking people with real disorders? A service-dog owner and flight attendant get real.
![Person holding a corgi, shot from behind]()
![Two Greyhounds with vests that are airport therapy dogs for CLT]()
