Joy Got Fur

The dog sprinted across the yard like happiness had four legs and no brakes. Playful interaction with animals increases dopamine and serotonin levels, which support mood regulation and emotional balance (Odendaal and Meintjes 296).

Shared moments of play also strengthen social bonds and encourage laughter, which has been shown to reduce stress hormones and improve immune response (Bennett and Lengacher 4). She laughed until her stomach hurt, not from pain but from release. Joy did not knock. It ran straight in.

Works Cited (MLA)
Bennett, Mary P., and Cecile A. Lengacher. “Humor and Laughter May Influence Health.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 3, no. 1, 2006, pp. 61–63.
Odendaal, J. S. J., and R. A. Meintjes. “Neurophysiological Correlates of Affiliative Behaviour Between Humans and Dogs.” The Veterinary Journal, vol. 165, no. 3, 2003, pp. 296–301.