Attachments are crucial to experiences of human connection. Gee says that people need attachments or bonds “with other living beings.” She mentions four attachment criteria: “When we attach to another person, we find them enjoyable; we find them comforting; they're missed when they're absent; and we seek them out when we're in distress.”

“I think it is safe to say that animals are beneficial to our mental and physical health. We’re seeing really nice effects,” said Professor Nancy Gee, director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University.

What's four-legged, furry and often serves up a mood boost? That's right: dogs. As part of our series Weekly Dose of Wonder, here's how even brief interactions with pups can be good for health.

...to help us unwind during this mental health awareness month, CBS 6 got a visit from a group of therapy dogs from VCU Medical Center today.  These guys and gals are from VCU's Dogs on Call program with the Center for Human-Animal Interaction.

“The child may make more eye contact or generally be gentler in the presence of the animal,” Gee said. “Not all kids on the spectrum will react the same way to animals, so each child needs to be evaluated to see if an animal is a good fit for them. In the cases where there is a good fit between child and animal, the child often becomes more involved with people around them. The animal creates an opportunity for the child to be more socially engaged.”