I am a lifelong dog lover. Over the years, I have always had at least one dog, and often more. I cry like a baby whenever a dog dies or gets hurt in a movie. I worked at a dog grooming salon in high school, and I am drawn like a magnet to any dog I see walking on the streets.

Back in 2009, my mom and I were at the mall when we decided to pop into the pet store just to look around. It came as no surprise to anyone that we fell in love with one of the puppies there, and long story short, we came home with this little gem:

Coco and I have been inseparable ever since. She's my only friend I have never fought with and she's one of the few things in my life I can count on. She's been with me through the best and worst parts of my life. She was there to keep me sane during the hell that was middle school, she was there when I was up all night doing homework on a regular basis in high school, and she means so much to me that I even brought her with me when I had my senior photos done.

I took Coco with me when I moved to college, further solidifying her position in my life. I don't have a lot of friends here, my family lives pretty far away, and I don't get out much, but I always have Coco. She brings me a lot of happiness and keeps me company in what might otherwise be a really lonely life.

Here's where the story turns a bit sad. A couple of weeks ago my dog got really sick. I was terrified she was going to die, and I couldn't focus on anything. My life fell apart during the week she was ill. I missed work twice. At most, I got three hours of sleep a night because I was so filled with worry that I couldn't rest. I walked around my house and the college campus with a constant flow of tears on my face. I turned in a paper that was worth 25% of my grade without finishing it.

When you look at any professor's list of acceptable excuses for not turning in assignments on time or employers list of acceptable reasons to miss work, it's usually limited to hospitalization and the death of a family member. That's standard practice and rarely questioned. This is what made me realize that people just don't see pets as part of the family.

I think that's a problem. Pet owners are no less affected when their animals are sick than they would be if a relative was sick. The same goes for when they pass away. Our pets are every bit as important to us as relatives are and other people need to understand that. No, my dog is not just a dumb animal, and no, I'm not being stupid for loving her so much.

My dog is a member of my family, too. I don't know what I'll do without her one day, but just because she won't be around as long as my parents, my siblings, or the children I'll have one day doesn't mean is less important to me. I know a lot of pet owners feel the same way.

I wish people who don't own pets were more respectful of that.