They're without a doubt our happiest hello and one of the hardest goodbyes. Whether they're walking around with their toys begging for attention or climbing on you when you're trying to sleep so they can cuddle up next to you, our dogs always seem to know how to make us smile from ear to ear.
I never anticipated for my dog to be the main cause of my homesickness when I went away for school; who knew animals could leave such a large mark on our hearts? When we need someone by our side when times get tough, they may not know it, but our dogs always seem to be the best company. If we're home alone and hear a noise upstairs and get frightened, there's something comforting about having our dogs by our side... even though we know if there is, in fact, a home intruder, they'll probably attack them with kisses, as opposed to acting as a guard dog.
Prior to getting our family pets, our parents made sure to lay down the ground rules. I received a talk around the lines of, "you wanted this dog so badly, so it's your responsibility to take care of her whenever you're around." We prepare ourselves for the number of responsibilities that come with having a pet, but we never prepared ourselves to fall so in love with this little dog. As we watch them grow, we only grow more attached to them, and they do the same to us. Whenever I'm home, my dog tends to follow my every move and, although sometimes it is a little excessive, I wouldn't want it any other way. The thought of life without our pets is unimaginable to us, so until the day comes, we cherish every moment we have with the dogs that absolutely stole our hearts. "They might only be here part of our lives, but to them, you are their whole life."
