I have heard people say that they prefer animals but that would suggest a failing in their social interaction with humans? Anthropomorphising certain animals like dogs gets tricky for me, are they more loyal, faithful and loving? Than humans? What does that mean? We cannot ask them and discuss the nature of their loyalty. Food may equal loyalty, a warm safe house and walkies and that's it. A lonely person with a dog and not much else I can understand the OP. Also rats, very sociable animals, interactive, inquisitive and fun. If that person is not keen on going outside, less people to deal with an ideal pet. As an add on, if you look at the brain the body ratio chart you can see where 'human' qualities could manifest and make animals more agreeable than humans. So by qualities I mean, intelligence, sentience, social behaviours including friendship, loyalty and love. https://images.app.goo.gl/MWTDdREiJ2KEpF119 Oops apologies, one final add on. People who work with animals as a profession could have this leaning, I am thinking zoologists, anthropologists, ecologists and marine biologists rather than lab workers.