This is the first time we’ve seen a horse return a cuddle!
An Oklahoman with her partly-paralyzed therapy kangaroo, who helps her overcome depression.
A rescued lion at Villa Lorena, Colombia, gives a worker a kiss.
We’d take a crack at hugging a hedgehog any day.
Head keeper of Sydney’s Koala Park gets a triple-decker hug from a mom and her two babies.
This Nuremberg zookeeper introducing a polar bear cub to his enclosure looks like he’s sending his kid off to kindergarten.
How often do cats hug back? And on camera, no less!
A nurse hugs Pisco, a llama.
A child going through chemotherapy gets a boost from a visiting puppy. Dogs elevate adrenaline levels, which helps their resistance of chemo’s side effects.
9 heartwarming photos of animals hugging humans
9/15/2012Holding an animal close definitely bestows its own form of healing (right between, say, an aspirin and a hot fudge sundae). Caring for animals has long been a form of therapy for recovering humans, and the assistance of animals can help people overcome challenges from blindness to PTSD. Imagine what life would be like if we all made a point of hugging a member of another species every day! We can draw straws on the porcupine.
Check out the msnNOW.com homepage to read more trending stories.
What is the most unusual animal you’ve ever held?
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