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Journal of European Psychology Students, Vol. 3, 2012 17 as cited in Brown & Katcher, 1997). Another study found that cats appear to be an additional source of emotional support, especially for those participants who are strongly attached to their animals (Stammbach & Turner, 1999). According to Melson (2003) many pet-owning children derive emotional support from their pet because of the lack of human social support. The socializing effects of animals are also important to elderly people who have lost friends and family members, especially if they have no children or employment to draw them into community activities (Hart, 1995). Nonetheless, Stallones et al. (1990) demonstrated that older owners highly attached to their pets also have less human social support. However, considering relationships with animals as substitutes for human relationships is not the only possible explanation for seeing animals as sources of social support. Dogs, for example, offer physical activity benefits, by virtue of a dog‟s own needs and desires for walking. Based on a qualitative research study, dogs also have a great capacity to facilitate social interaction and contact, as they are the type of pet most likely to venture with their owners into the broader community (Wood, Giles-Corti, & Bulsara, 2005). Dog walkers are more likely to experience social contact and conversation than people walking alone (McNicholas & Collis, 2000). But dogs can also serve as a topic of casual conversation for walkers, even when not accompanying their owner, as found in the conversation analysis of a dog-walking experiment (Rogers, Hart, & Boltz, 1993). Another positive effect of pets is seen when familial relationships grow even stronger as a consequence of striving to meet the daily requirements of their beloved pets. The best example of such bonding occurs during the evening walk, a regular event that can bring many or all family members together for the benefit of their canines, while simultaneously encouraging contact with each other as well as with members of their communities (Hill et al., 2008). Contrary to the studies mentioned above, Winefield et al. (2008) did not find a statistically significant correlation between social support and attachment to pets. Loneliness Satisfaction in interpersonal relationships is also associated with loneliness. Various hobbies are suitable for overcoming loneliness (Birsa, 1992), such as interacting with animals and taking care of them (Marinšek & Tušak, 2007). Research focused on the connection between relationships with animals and loneliness found that attachment to pets may substantially lessen emotional distress (Garrity et al., 1989). Stallones et al. (1990) also showed that strong attachment to a pet is linked to less depression and loneliness, but only when pet owners had few human confidants. Similar findings were established in the case of cats by Mahalski, Jones, and Maxwell (1988). Goldmeier (1986) performed a correlational study which showed that older women living with pets were less lonely, more optimistic and more interested in making plans for the future, as well as less nervous compared to women that lived entirely alone. Contrary to the studies listed so far, Keil (1995) reports a positive correlation between attachment to pets and loneliness, which suggests deeper loneliness is connected with stronger attachment to pets, and vice-versa. Problem and hypotheses The purpose of this research is to investigate the connection between attachment to pets, attachment to people, loneliness and social support, examining cat owners and dog owners as the most common animals owned as pets. The following hypotheses are proposed: 1. Demographic variables like pet owner gender and type of pet will influence the strength of pet-owner attachment. Furthermore, other potential influential demographic variables, such as living location, pet information, length of ownership will be analyzed. 2. Participants with higher scores on the dimensions of avoidance and/or anxiety (based on the ECR-R questionnaire) will be more attached to their pets.