When reflecting on life, we always think about how much our family and friends have seen us accomplish. As strange as it sounds, we don’t really stop and think about how much our dogs have lived through with us as well. They have sat there with us during our biggest accomplishments, our hardest-to-handle moments of sadness, and through our biggest losses. They are there for comfort, fun, and so much more that we don't even realize. They have lived through just as much of our lives as our family has, and though we don’t think of it often, our pets really are there for it all.

My family adopted two of my dogs when I was in 4th grade. It's hard to imagine that beginning at ten years old, these puppies would walk though a huge portion of my life with me. They watched me throughout middle school, and played there on the couch and kept me company as I did my homework every afternoon. In 7th grade, they moved into a new house with the family. It was just as big of a change for them as it was for us. But just as we adjusted, they did too. These same dogs that were there when I was ten, were there at age 14 when I entered high school, lost friends, and made better ones. When I thought the loss of these friends was the end of the world, I spent the night laying on the couch with my dogs because something about cuddling up with them has always gave me comfort.

It sucked to say goodbye to them as I entered college and had to spend time in a dorm without my dogs. But they were there to see me off. And they were also there to give me the biggest welcome every single time I came home. Most of the time, they were the ones that were most excited to see me. It didn't matter if I had been gone one week or a month, their excitement level was always the same.

Our pets are special, special beings that we wish could follow us throughout our entire lives. They celebrate all of our emotions with us because they carry enough happiness and peace for the both of us in any situation, and what a wonderful ability that is. There is nothing in my life that I treasure more than the love of my family... And yes, that completely includes my dogs.