On Christmas night, I lost my dog. He was a miniature collie named Ozzy and he was the first dog I'd ever had. He was a part of my life for about nine years and the night he passed it hit me pretty hard. I was bawling my eyes out just seeing him hurt and then seeing him go. I'll never forget about him and I will always miss him.

Now, after I lost Ozzy I kept thinking to myself, "Why does this hurt so much?" It's something to think about, why is it so painful when we lose a pet? I mean they're just animals right, they can't be that important, can they? Well, they can be and they are. This quote from John Groban, the author of Marley and Me, sums up why pets hold such meaning in our lives;

"Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them." (John Groban)

Whether it's a dog, a cat, a rabbit, or whatever kind of animal, pets do something to us. I know some people don’t have pets and won't ever have them for whatever reason, and that's alright. But I must say that having a pet is a true blessing. As soon as you get a pet, it immediately becomes a part of the family. There are moments where they'll get on your nerves and you'll regret your decision, but all that goes away when they cuddle up to you and you can see the love in their eyes. Pets teach us so many things about ourselves and are there with us through everything. Nick Trout, the author of Tell Me Where It Hurts, says it perfectly,

"Pets devour the loneliness. They give us purpose, responsibility, a reason for getting up in the morning, and a reason to look to the future. They ground us, help us escape the grief, make us laugh, and take full advantage of our weakness by exploiting our furniture, our beds, and our refrigerator. We wouldn't have it any other way. Pets are our seat belts on the emotional roller coaster of life--they can be trusted, they keep us safe, and they sure do smooth out the ride." (Nick Trout)

Pets do so much in our lives and deserve to be loved unconditionally. There are some who don't agree with this, abuse animals and treat them with cruelty. That is one of the cruelest things you could do because animals don't deserve that. All animals want is love, and if you love them and train them appropriately, they'll reward you with unending loyalty and a happy life.

In conclusion here, pets are pretty important. If you're debating on getting one, I would say yes, but just make sure it's something you can handle. Make sure you're financially able to care for them. If you're going to neglect a pet then there's no point in getting one. If you do get a pet be ready for the craziness, messiness and happiness that comes with a pet. They will become a part of your family and I'll end with this quote from Anatole France,

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." (Anatole France)