Animals are incredibly sensitive to our internal states, but it is more likely that they are responding to our biological markers of stress rather than our specific political or spiritual convictions. When we feel anxious during a tense election season or deeply focused during prayer, our bodies release chemicals like cortisol or oxytocin, and our heart rates shift in ways our pets can pick up on instantly. They do not understand the ideology behind why we are upset, but they certainly perceive the tension in our voices and the change in our daily energy. Because they mirror our emotional frequency, a pet might act clingy or restless simply because they are trying to comfort us or figure out why their environment feels so charged. Ultimately, they are not picking sides in our debates, but they are absolutely co-regulating with our emotions, which makes them feel like active participants in our private lives.