You have heard of "The Proust effect" https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101562
If you have ever experienced it, you would at once understand what I felt when I smell Taku’s odor. Taku has been our pet since 2022 and his odor when he was a little puppy brought me back the memory of my younger brother who died at the very young age.
A year ago, when Taku got a stomach flu, and he was extremely sick. I could not understand my emotions, anxiety, and deep sadness. My tears were rolling down and I felt so much nostalgia. Until later in my life, I never realized that my baby brother's death affected my childhood negatively.
He is my service dog, so to speak and brings me happiness no matter what happens and how my life goes.
Animals have amazing healing power.