Dogs provide companionship and company. They can be a comfort to people who crave unconditional interaction with another living being. According to Vanderbilt University, dogs can decrease levels of human loneliness and give humans a sense of purpose as they care for their animal companions. This can be especially beneficial for people who live alone, don't socialize much, are empty-nesters or recently experienced a major change of life, such as the loss of a close human companion to death or divorce.