In romantic dramas or comedies, a dog often serves as the catalyst for human connection. A dog might bring two people together in a park, or help a protagonist heal from heartbreak, preparing them to find human love again.

While much of this content is scripted for entertainment, it is often rooted in the very real phenomenon of . Dogs are pack animals, and they frequently form deep, lasting attachments to their housemates.

Interspecies and Gender Relations in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast