Written by, April 29 -- Muskan Shah, Moitrayee Das

Dogs have long been considered to be man's best friend, speaking to the unwavering loyalty, companionship, and comfort that pets offer. Based on the comfort furry friends and humans often lend to each other, pet cafes that were once novelty, have propped up in countless cities across the country. For young adults especially, the appeal of these pet cafes highlights how animals are no longer just four legged companions, but rather a substitute for emotional connections which have become sparse in the new social world.

As innately social beings, the population is shifting from natural human interaction to controlled, curated environments to seek comfort and connection. At the surface leve...