Why do fostering and dog walking help with loneliness?

Interacting with animals through a fostering or dog walking program is great because it lets you draw companionship from animals. But it does something else as well. As I’ve noted before, loneliness tends to promote feelings of distrust and threat. And the nice thing about animal shelters, or rescue organizations, is that you’re dealing with other people at their best. You’re seeing other people—at the pound, or with the rescue group—being caring, and open, and kind.

And this can help (even if just briefly) shift your feelings of threat and distrust. It’s hard to see a shelter worker get down on his hands and knees to hug an old dog and not feel warm-hearted and safe around that worker. This feeling of safety is a break from the feelings of threat chronic loneliness can cue, and a positive way of responding to and thawing out your loneliness.