What makes life worthwhile is finding love and companionship. Although we come to love other people, and we confide in friends throughout our lives, nobody will ever make us feel the way that a dog makes us feel.

I’ve only had one dog in my lifetime. She’s a dachshund named Karmel – yes, with a K – and we’ve had her since I was seven years old. For 14 years now, I’ve watched her grow into the fat, gray old lady she is. But I wouldn’t trade those 14 years for anything.

Dogs offer unconditional love to their owners that we don’t always get from other people. When you walk in the door at home, they’re always standing there waiting for you. Wagging their tails, they act like they haven’t seen you in years whether you were gone for ten minutes or ten hours. They curl up on the bed with you, even if they’re so big that they take up more than half of the bed. They’ll sit and watch you as you walk to the kitchen, hoping you’ll bring something back for them. They’ll bark at strangers coming up to the door to protect you, even if it’s just the mailman.

Just as quickly as you fell in love with your dog the first time you met, your dog fell in love with you too. You share a bond that cannot be replaced by anyone or any other dog. It’s hard to explain sometimes, but you just know that your dog will always forgive you and never leave you.

Dogs have instincts that make them comforting. They pick up on cues and sense when you’re sad or hurting. When I broke my ankle and took naps on the couch, my dog would lay right next to my boot or put her nose right on top of it, letting me know that she was there for me. Everyone should have a dog because they’re going to be this loyal to you no matter how you feel.

Sure, other pets may make you feel loved or wanted, but no other animal has the alliance with humans that dogs do. I’m convinced that dogs and humans were meant to be best friends. Why else would we have doggie day care and pet spas these days? We take care of our dogs just like we would take care of kids, giving them everything they need and more.

Dogs are your partners in crime, your adventure partners, your nap buddies and sometimes even your dinner dates at home. Dogs will do anything for you. They deserve a loving companion just as much as you do, and they will always forgive and forget when it comes to their owner. There will always be a dog that has saved your life in one way or another. For that reason and many more, everyone needs a dog at some point in their lives.