I never knew what pure love was until I found myself running around a strangers front yard, chasing a tiny and energetic Cocker Spaniel puppy; with ears flopping carelessly, and tongue out in pure happiness, I knew at that moment how much I already loved this dog. My mom and I drove three hours out of town to bring that little bundle of joy into our lives and looking back at it now, I would have circled the world five times over for that dog. Holding my puppy for the first time was one of the best moments of my life, and I am sure every dog owner would agree.
As much as we love our dogs, it is undeniable that we will never love them half as much as they love us. I mean, have you ever seen a tail wag as fast as it does when your dog sees you walk through the doors? That right there is pure joy. Think about it, the sight of you makes your dog run around in circles, jump up and down, and cover you in slobbery kisses, all because their favorite person in this whole world is now standing in front of them. On top of that, no matter how angry you might get at them, or the number of times you might ignore them because you're having a bad day, they will understand, and proceed to love you even more. You are the light in their life and nothing could change that.
Another indicator that your dog loves you as much as their little hearts can let them, is the fact that they will never, and could never, forget you. I have been in college for three years now, and I only make it home just a couple times a year, yet my dog seems to get more and more excited to see me each time. You would think after months of not seeing you around the house, a dog will begin to lose some memory of you-but no-somehow while you are away all that time, their love for you grows even greater, and when they see you, their tales wag even faster.
Forget Thanksgiving and Winter Break there needs to be a week dedicated to going home just to see your dog-preferably sometime after Midterms as to help cope with the stress. A cuddle session with your furry best friend will no doubt make all those all-nighters in the library worth it. As a matter of fact, universities around the country, if you're reading this, just let us bring our dogs into the library as much needed emotional support. We promise we will not engage in dog fighting, and will certainly let you pet them if you ask.
I'm not sure if angels exist, but I know that our dogs come pretty darn close. We live our lives to take care of them, and they live their lives in hopes of making us as happy as one could possibly be. They love us unconditionally and undeniably, even after we use a vacuum in front of them.