Over the span of 30 years I have had 3 med-lg dogs and 5 cats. My time with my pets, every one of them, has been pure joy, if not a little trying sometimes. They've had very few health problems but we have dealt with severe allergies, one had cancer, and other more minor maladies. I have loved them all like my children. I have 2 wonderful human children as well, adults, also passionate animal lovers. They both have apartments that don't allow pets so I will often find them at my door wanting to meet my visitors! My beloved pets that are now gone have taken a piece of my heart with them. They will never be gone from my memories, and no less loved and adored. Animals need more love and affection in some form, even than people sometimes, because, like babies, they only understand love and lack of love. They don’t understand the “why” of sometimes, or not now. They only feel the absence of it. It makes them sad even if they’ve never known it. My goal in life is for every animal I meet to feel the unconditional love I have for them. Any and all of them.