Dogs: Man's Best Friend

It is an undeniable fact that pets become an integral part of our families. No matter what animal we have chosen to bring into our lives, the anticipation of bringing it home is a feeling that I'm sure we can all relate. I remember when I was in the 8th grade, I was so excited when my parents informed me that we were getting another dog; a Welsh Springer Spaniel who I later decided to call, Rusty. 

My parents contacted a breeder, and after meeting the puppies, I could hardly contain my excitement of when Rusty would be old enough to bring home. Although I had a dog before, Rusty was the first dog that I took true ownership of. That summer, I taught him various tricks including how to sit, "give me paw," and roll over. After completing all three tricks, he would be rewarded a treat. What's funny is that this eventually became his repertoire that he would perform every time someone in my family would offer him a treat! 

Sure, Rusty had some annoying habits, like incessantly barking at our guests... and okay, he did have some "OCD tendencies" such as licking the sliding glass door or the tile floor. Nonetheless, Rusty was my buddy who I would carry around on a little pillow until he was too big to do so. I even formed "Club Rusty" in his honor. 

Sadly, Rusty got old and developed what we believe was a doggy form of dementia, and his condition could not be reversed. After letting go of Rusty, my parents swore up and down that there will be "no more dogs." It didn't matter how many times I've tried to convince them that we need to get a Pomeranian (pre-named, Louis), their stance was still the same. 

However, just recently, my brother was excited to get a little buddy of his own: a Miniature Schnauzer named Theo! His excitement of bringing him home was just as big as mine, and he loves that dog as much as I loved Rusty! 

If you have any pet stories that you would like to share, please tell us about them in the "comments" section. :)