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Pet therapy – why animals have become our mental-health heroes

Dogs, cats, snakes and wild parakeets have all played an unexpected and vital role in helping us through this pandemic. Paws for thought with some of our fluffiest stories

© Dan Burn-Forti | Model: Gaia the red setter

Meet the FT readers’ pets
When we asked you to submit pictures of the four-legged or feathered animals saving your sanity, hundreds of you responded. Here are some of our favourites
I didn’t like cats... until the pandemic
What happened when one pet sceptic was forced to share lockdown life with a new family member
How Britain became a nation of birdwatchers
The pandemic has taught us to take notice of nature — but is it a lasting change?
The pet snake? It’s my emotional support animal
The prejudices of ‘Snakes on a Plane’ mean that mine will never fly United Airlines with me
Strictly for the birds: how we can help them thrive in our gardens
Advice on feeding and protecting dwindling species — and how to deal with that pesky squirrel problem
Year of the dog (and other animals) – how our pets saved us in 2020
Animals were our saviours during lockdown as millions of us welcomed new members into our homes. We look at the four-legged phenomenon, and revisit some of the most handsome creatures HTSI has ever seen

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