Some people believe love for an animal is trivial. But that particular type of love opens one’s heart in unique and powerful ways. Humans unconsciously close their hearts to protect themselves from feeling vulnerable. The desire to protect one’s heart is understandable. But the deepest forms of love require the vulnerability and authenticity of an undefended heart. A dog’s unconditional love and acceptance bring a human’s heart back into balance, and this open-heartedness ripples out to other areas of their lives. For those who allow themselves to love us, we dogs create a bridge for our people back to their own beating hearts.