So the time has come, you're thinking of getting a pet. You've thought about it for a little while, but now you realize the commitment you are making. You realize it’s more than just the cute little face and the tail that might slap you as you walk by. Pets have a way of wakening our souls and being our best friends. They NEED you to love them and they’ll love you in return. Animals need to feel loved and protected just like a human. When you commit to having an animal, you’re committing to love and protect them no matter what. You’re responsible for that animal until death. That animal will become a part of you.

I read a post on Facebook not too long ago where a lady was talking about how she was offended about hearing someone call their pet their baby. She posted a poll asking people’s opinion. To her an animal, no matter what type of animal it is, should not be referred to as a baby. I cannot say that I agree with her. I call my animals my babies as well as other objects, such as my car. Does that mean I believe these animals or my car have a higher value than a child? No, absolutely not. I just think it’s silly that only people need to be called our babies or our love.

Of course, I know what you’re thinking, great this girl is some animal crazy person and she’s going to ramble on about the importance of pets. In a way, you’re almost correct. I do believe pets are important and yes, I have a strong love for animals (except I’m not a fan of snakes or spiders). I just strongly believe that if you’re going to have an animal you should take care of it. Do not get something if you’re going to mistreat it. The biggest way to make me lose all respect for someone is to hear that they abused an animal. You really don’t want to get me started on that.

Moving right along, over the years I’ve had my fair share of pets and each of my babies have taught me multiple things. My family has always been the rescued animal family. Living in the country, you get used to people dropping animals off and taking in the strays.

I think the first real pet I had was when I was about five. This dog was my absolute best friend. Of course, there were times when I would get upset with her since she chewed the feet off of my Barbies. She would go everywhere with us basically. We spent several times on the river and she was always with us. We tried leaving her on the camp site, but she would swim to us. She was one of the best dogs we ever had. When I was seventeen or eighteen, we had to put her to sleep and it absolutely killed me. At this time, she was about sixteen or so. We couldn’t bare to see her suffer anymore and that’s all the old age was doing.

My next baby was a cat that we debated on keeping for a while because she was crazy (literally). However, one night she showed us that she wasn't so bad. She just had some special moments. We had to put her down this past January and it broke our hearts. Both of these sweet babies show how important animals are to me. They lived long beautiful lives and were my fur-ever friends.

Now to move past the sadness, I'll go to the reason this article came to mind. I have gotten pretty sick of seeing the posts for "free puppies/kittens" because Christmas is over and people are now realizing that puppies and kittens grow up. They take work and commitment as I have already stated. Plus, it just kills me to see so many people breed when there are so many unwanted animals already. I was on Facebook two days ago and there was a post about a dog in Miami, Florida that had been abandoned in a kill shelter. I was determined to find a way to get that dog to me. I e-mailed the shelter, praying the sweet dog had been adopted already. Luckily, she had. Call me crazy, but if she wasn't adopted I was doing everything I could to find a way to get her. I even asked family members and friends that were on Spring Break!

My fiance begged me for months to get a dog before I finally said yes. However, my conditions were simple. The dog had to be a rescue baby. I looked online for a while before finding a post about a dog that had been rescued once, but the lady's older dog just wasn't having it around. I sent her a text and received all of the info about the dog. On December 23, 2016 we brought our Shadow home. Originally she was named Cheyenne, but we didn't think it fit her very well and she wasn't responding to it. The pictures below were from the day we got her. She was thirteen pounds.

She was also super nervous and unsure about going to another home. We reached milestones in the first day with her. She didn't like getting in a car because she had bad experiences with them. She also was afraid to go up the stairs, but we worked with her and she started going like a pro. Within the first two days, she realized we were going to love her forever. It wasn't long before she started being my best friend. She attached herself to me and follows me EVERYWHERE. A month later we took her to the vet for more puppy shots and she weighed eighteen pounds. Now she weights twenty-three pounds and she is even smarter. She LOVES tennis balls, bones, and strawberries. Shadow has learned how to ride in the back of the truck and she loves it. As you can tell, she is very spoiled. Our third month anniversary is approaching fast and she has already gained a spot in our hearts. I love having a fur-ever friend. It's never a dull moment and even on my roughest days, she knows how to cheer me up.

I thought I was rescuing her, but in truth she rescued me. She has become my protector and my best friend. We've bonded and I would be so lost without her.

In closing, pets are fun. They take some work, but it's very rewarding. I can't tell you how many times I've had a bad day and coming home to sweet loving from my girl has cheered me up. She makes me laugh and smile just by being so goofy. She's also very spoiled and she knows it. Every time I go to the store she gets something new. I think she has more toys than any other dog, but she plays with them all daily.

If you get a pet, just remember they need you more than you think. Life does get busy, but those pets are always there and will love you unconditionally so treat them right. They grow in love with you just like you do them.