<p>Amidst the growing trend of companion animal ownership, these animals have assumed a vital role within the family structure, where familial and professional spheres are closely intertwined. This study employs a multi-faceted methodological approach to examine how companion animal attachment relates to employee engagement. Firstly, we developed a novel model to delineate the antecedent variables of engagement and employed fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to ascertain the multiple conditions and their synergistic effects that are associated with employee engagement. Secondly, we constructed a model featuring dual mediation processes to explore the mechanisms linking animal attachment and employee engagement. The findings indicate that factors such as work environment, individual psychological resources, and animal-related family dynamics interact to form distinct groupings that correspond to elevated employee engagement in unique ways. Additionally, animal attachment is shown to be positively related to engagement through the mechanisms of family relationships and family responsibilities.</p>