I got my cat, Ellie, at a local Bingo game. My dog we rescued from a dog show — apparently, no one wanted a runt corgi with the show name Chester Knight Rider (who we renamed Pepper, thank gosh). My cat, Saphera, was rescued from an abandoned building. My chickens Olive, Eleanor, Lily, Kelsey, Merriam, Sunny, Thing One, Thing Two, Robin, McKenna, Betty, Liddy, Roxie and Charlotte were purchased at the hardware store for three dollars a piece. My fish Harry Potter, well, we got him at a Petsmart. All of my animals came to me in some strange or bizarre or even normal way, but their beginnings don’t matter. In my home, they’re all treated and loved equally.

I remember my childhood with my dog vividly. It’s almost like a flip-book in my head: the time we discovered my dog could play soccer by kicking the ball, the time my dog walked around with a trick-or-treat basket in his mouth on Halloween, the time we bought him a vanilla ice cream at Rockies for one of his birthdays, the time he almost caught a squirrel at our camp and the numerous hours I’ve spent playing with him and his favorite toy hedgehog, Hedgie. When I was a kid, getting a dog was like winning the lottery, and I treated every moment with him like I had won a million dollars for years.

But then came high school.

High school, as we all have experienced, comes with a variety of distractions: homework, SATS, gossip, applying to college, boys — you name it. Suddenly your time becomes consumed by what you once never gave a second thought about. As you’re involved with the after-school activities that will look good on your college applications, you have less and less free time at home. You barely have time to eat and get your homework done. You barely have the time to walk your dog. Hell, you barely have the time to acknowledge your dog. At one point, he just becomes background noise. He isn’t a novelty anymore, he’s just there.

One of the biggest regrets I have about high school is letting my dog become that background fodder. He’s always been, to be cliche, my best friend. He would keep me company when I was home sick, staying by my side for 24 hours, licking my hand to make sure I was okay. When I cried over some inconsequential problem, my dog would let me hug him without even squirming. Even when I was just having a rough day, Pepper would come over and give me a smile, a whine and a lick. Over time you come to realize that no one can be there for you like your dog can.

In high school, and frankly still recently, I haven’t valued my dog as much as I should — as much as he deserves. My dog is the definition of a “good dog.” I don’t think he’s ever even hurt a fly. All he’s ever done is love me, and hell, he deserves the same amount of love from me. And at 12 years old, I only have so much time left to give it to him.

So I ask this of you, whether it be your dog, your cats, your chickens, your fish or whatever animal you have, remember them this holiday season. I know I’ll be making sure to treasure them all. If my cat Ellie wants to stay on my lap for a few extra minutes, I’ll let her. If my cat, Saphera, wants to play, I’ll make sure to stick with her until she gets bored. I’ll even throw extra food to my fish and chickens. And I’ll make sure my dog gets the love he deserves, and maybe even a new toy in his stocking. When you’re planning whatever holiday you celebrate, remember to include your animals in that schedule.

Actually, on second thought, remember them every day of the year. Value each moment with them, because you don’t know which moment will be the last.