My family owned an amazing dog throughout my childhood. I deeply loved caring for and walking her, and just being around her. Dogs bring me an indescribable amount of joy, and I have missed being around that since not having a dog of my own for several years. During college, I regularly checked in on a friend's dog while they were away at work, and I loved being able to do that. I will ensure that I make my time with the dogs active and enjoyable so that their time away from their owner is a positive experience. As a grad student and freelancer, I have a flexible daytime schedule, and would love to fill those hours by caring for these wonderful animals. As someone who stays active, it would be even better if I could do that while being joined by the company of a dog.