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Best Friends: How Animals Bolster Human Health
Setup
Anyone who has ever had a pet understands how deeply connected human beings are to the animals who serve as our companions, lessen our stress, and perhaps offer a buffer against cognitive decline. Puppy play date, anyone? Honeybees help to protect our food supply, vision-impaired people rely not only on seeing-eye dogs but also on seeing-eye horses, and animal research has informed vaccine development and helped to combat cancer and regenerate the human heart. In Ukraine, President Zelensky awarded the Medal of Honor to a bomb-sniffing Jack Russell terrier named Patron. Animals, people, and the environment are symbiotic, the health of each one affecting the health of all. We share a common fate.
- 2022 Health
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- Environment
- Science
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