A big thank you goes to my two loves, Booboo and Peppa. Booboo is an adorable Chihuahua that acts nothing like one and Peppa is my beautiful white lemon drop Beagle pup. During my Sophomore year of high school, I was going through a really tough time with trying to cope with anxiety plus the intense curriculum that year entailed. There were many nights I sat in bed bawling, feeling stupid because I could not for the life of me understand chemistry. Booboo would always come and sit in my lap, and just look at me wagging his tail before he would try to cuddle me as best he could. He has licked away many tears, as has Peppa.

My family got Booboo in August of my senior year of high school. My mom rescued him from a patient's home who was about to take him to the pound. I was getting ready for summer band when my mom comes into my room holding Booboo. He had the sweetest face and gave lots of love right away. To this day, even though I have a pup of my own, I will still always consider him my baby. He helped me find myself and learn to love myself. He was there for all of my hard work and exhaustion in high school. When I go home to visit my parents, he knows it's my car and comes running to see me.

Peppa went through a tough break up with me and she sat there with a paw on me at all times, on standby to show me love. I was three hours away from home and three hours away from my best friend. It was from that moment on that I knew Peppa was always going to have a special place in my heart.

There are studies that prove that dogs help people with anxiety and depression cope, but I had the pleasure of experiencing it myself. So, here's a thank you to the furry friends who impacted my life for the better and always love me. Some days I don't love myself but when Peppa wakes me up with cuddles, I fall in love every time. When I come home each day, Peppa barks repeatedly and jumps on me because she's so excited that I'm home and its one of the best feelings in the world. And sometimes I can feel a panic attack coming on and I show many different signs, or usually none at all, but my girl can always sense them and she comes and sits up next to me or playfully bites my hand.

Without my pups, I wouldn't be who I am today. Heck, I might not even be here today. So hug your pup a little closer and show them extra love, for they love you more than probably anyone ever will.