There's nothing better than having a furry friend to soothe you when you're upset, to cuddle with when you're cold, or to take for a walk when you want to get in some extra steps. Dogs truly are mans best friend, and unfortunately far too many pups don't get the love they deserve. In countless homes dogs are mistreated, left unattended to, or abandoned by owners who are apathetic to creatures who wants to bring them nothing but love. Situations like these shed light on just how important rescue groups are to save the lives of these countless pets who otherwise would never find a loving forever home. With so many organizations saving these precious animals, I urge those looking for a pet to give these animals the second chance they deserve.

Between the two households I live in we have a total of 3 dogs, all of which we rescued. I'll talk about each one in detail and give you a little taste of how lucky I am to call them family. About a year ago my family adopted a little ball of fur which we decided to name Zucc after Mats Zuccarello, not a zucchini. When we got him he was more fur than he was dog, and he was trying to get used to being in his own skin. He was just a little pup, so he had some house training to learn, and is still learning. He's a stubborn little guy, but boy is he a lover. When he's not trying to play tug of war, steal sips of vanilla beans, or snag a toilet paper roll to tear up he loves cuddles and kisses. He's a gentle dog that goes with the flow, no matter how many times my little sister accidentally steps on his tail or hugs him a little too tight. His best friend is my brother, and his favorite thing to do is be held like a baby when my brother carries him upstairs. He also likes to talk to us and our other dog when he's not getting enough attention. He has a huge personality, and although things didn't work out in his first home, we're very happy he's a part of our family.

My second very special pup, who rules my mom's household, is Chispa. A mid-sized mix that must've been a race horse in her past life, because that girl can run. My mom had never been a huge dog person until she met Chispa. We rescued her from an organization that saves dogs in Puerto Rico, as they have a huge problem with over population of dogs. Luckily for our baby girl, she was rescued and flown to America where my mom fell in love with her and became her perfect soulmate. Besides being able to run laps like nobody's business, Chispa's talents include squeaky toys, stealing my socks, catching carrots tossed in her direction, and making herself comfortable in any space she finds. We call her a pretzel dog because she will fold herself up to fit in any nook to be as comfortable and as snuggly as possible. You know she's found her spot when she lets out a sigh of relief unlike anything I've heard. She loves everything and is willing to discover all new things, except water. She hates baths, and is petrified of lakes, oceans, ponds, pools, you name it. We think this has to do with her childhood, but we accept her for who she is and we're thrilled that she found her path to us.

Last but certainly not least of my three rescue pups is Zucc's mentor in life, Cally. All three of these dogs mean the world to me, but Cally holds a special spot in my heart. She's the dog we've had the longest, and she's the oldest of our dogs. Her frequent activities include sleeping, and playing with Zucc when she's feeling generous, but you'll never see her move faster than when there's food involved. She loves to hover under the table and wait for a noddle to drop to the floor, or for my little sister to sneak her a treat. She often less detectable than Zucc, who makes his presence known whenever he enters a room. Cally moves in silence, and only nudges into you when she wants some love. She's particularly fond of my bed, and will lay in there for hours if you let her. She loves belly rubs, and although we've had her for years there's a certain spot on her back where she doesn't like to be pet. Unfortunately, we think this is a result of something that happened to her before she was ours. All of these dogs have stories they can't tell for themselves. We'll never be sure of where they really came from or what happened to them before they met us, but since they've had this second chance we've been trying to give them the best life we can.

Dogs are like babies, they require a lot of love and attention, but give a ton back in return. It's very important for those looking to get a pet to really consider the responsibility before committing to putting an animals life in their hands. Often times when people aren't ready to be a parent to a fur baby, they can end up neglected or abandoned. While I'm so thankful for my rescue pups, I'd never wish for an animal to need to be rescued. If you've weighed the pros and cons and are ready to take on the responsibility of a pet, consider adopting instead of shopping. Often times it's cheaper, and these pets are so grateful to find a loving home. Each one of these dogs has a story, just like you and I, and they accept us for who we are, they love us no matter what. Rescuing a dog can teach you so much you didn't know before, and their unconditional love can rescue you without you even realizing you needed to be rescued.