Pets as a source of emotional support: Philosophical understanding of the living presence

Background. Today, pets are not just a form of leisure or an element of everyday life, but important assistants in a person’s spiritual life and performers of philosophical meaning. The fast pace of life, the digitization of communication, and the gradual disappearance of traditional forms of communication lead to a deep sense of loneliness and inner division. Against this backdrop, a contradiction arises: at a time when people are increasingly surrounded by technology, they are increasingly seeking solace in the silent and living — in animals. The purpose of the study is to examine the philosophical significance of interaction with animals as a form of emotional support and physical empathy, a source of living presence. Pets provide emotional support through their presence, as well as a sense of acceptance and care. The study discusses how, through contact with animals, people restore their connection with nature, other people, and their own bodies. Research methods. The study uses methods of analysis of literature sources, description and generalization, as well as phenomenological principles of obviousness and intentionality. Results. The study found that animals play a key role in human emotional life, acting as mediators between culture and nature, and helping to restore lost connections with the surrounding world and with oneself. It has been proven that an animal is not an object, but a phenomenon of co‑presence, which, in turn, helps humans in the process of restoring the ontological value lost in the context of technologization.