Mine are also grounding. The presence of the dogs gives me a sense of safety. The snakes are physically grounding (some are good at deep pressure massage).
I find animals more predictable than humans, even when they have ulterior motives (they can be quite cunning when they want something)... people can be more deliberately hurtful also. Generally, the animals we chose to live with us don't do things to be able to watch us squirm (ok, maybe the cats with the live gifts, and the knocking down of stuff... and maybe the little dog when he gets mad and pees on the couch right where I like to sit)... but in general, animals are less deliberately, harmfully manipulative than a lot of people.