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

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

If you have a pet, you probably know that they love you and don’t judge you, and you’ve likely read that they have many positive effects on physical and mental human health. However, recent canine brain research also suggests that dogs love us in a way that’s more human than we’ve ever thought possible.

Scientists at Emory University trained dogs to lie still in an MRI machine and then measured the neural responses they had to the aromas of various humans and canines. They found that whenever dogs smelled the scent of their humans or even 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 and empathy, and they found dogs’ had 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 in the brain. This means that dogs apparently wonder what their owners are thinking about.

According to the scientist responsible for the research, Gregory Berns, the scans showed that 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 that this ability suggests a rethinking of how we treat dogs.

Other studies conducted by researchers at the University of London tested dogs’ understanding of human emotions. They placed dogs individually in a room with a person who was crying, another who was talking and another who was humming. They found that each dog was much more likely to approach and then submit to someone who was crying. 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.

What does all this research mean to you? It means that dogs (and many cats) can provide you with a lifetime of true love, in addition to undying devotion and adoration, so why not bring some love into your life by adopting a pet from Fulton County Animal Services (FCAS)? Now is a great time, because LifeLine Animal Project, the nonprofit that manages FCAS, is running a promotion called “My Furry Valentine.” During the month of February, you may adopt any dog or cat, ages six months and up, from FCAS for only $14! This adoption fee includes the pet’s spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip and more!

Fulton County Animal Services Pets of the Week: Chloe and Hazel

One dog who will offer you loads of love is Chloe, a senior girl who is adorable and gentle. This sweet Shepherd mix is about eight-years-old and is very calm. Although being at the shelter for over a month has made Chloe nervous, she becomes really happy and peaceful when she is out of her pen and around people, and she has lots of love to give a gentle adopter. Pretty Chloe also gets along well with other dogs and would love to be in her very own home home with a comfy bed. Chloe will add some sunshine to some lucky person’s life! Make her your Valentine, and pay only $14!

Our next Pet of the Week is Miss Personality and then some! Meet Hazel, a staff favorite who is super affectionate and loves everyone. Hazel greets all people with unbridled enthusiasm and enjoys making everyone laugh by being a goofy and silly girl. Hazel loves throwing toys around for herself and chasing them, playing with other dogs and snuggling with people. Hazel also enjoys receiving belly rubs and giving kisses. She would be a great addition to any family, and her adoption fee is only $14. Please come in and meet her, and find out why the staff adores her!

To meet Chloe or Hazel, please drop by the shelter, email adoptions@fultonanimalservices.com or call 404-613-0357. To view dogs or cats available for adoption, please visit the shelter at 860 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta, 30318 or go to www.fultonanimalservices.com/adopt. All potential adopters will be screened to ensure the animals are going to good homes.