Christian is my brother, and I can honestly say that his love for animals has been a constant in his life for as long as I can remember. As children, we always had pets—our parents initially started with fish and rabbits, then gradually moved on to hamsters and cats. Christian loved them all, but he was so determined to have a dog. He would constantly pester my parents, who kept resisting because they wanted him to understand that dogs require more responsibility than any other pet we had. One Christmas, our parents asked us to write letters to Santa about what we wanted as a gift for being well-behaved. I asked for a BMX bike, but Christian begged Santa for a real dog. That heartfelt plea must have touched my parents’ hearts because they finally gave in and got him a dog. Christian has been devoted to dogs—and all animals—ever since. I used to tease him, saying he got along better with animals than with people. He would spend all his free time with his dog, even when everyone else was out meeting friends or trying to impress girls. Throughout his life, Christian has always cared for pets, even during times when circumstances prevented him from having a dog himself. He would still house-sit and walk dogs for friends and family because he genuinely loves animals. Christian's patience and empathy are qualities I deeply admire. I would trust him with anyone’s pet, knowing he would treat them with the utmost kindness and care. Though he might look tough with tattoos, he’s a big softy at heart—someone with an enormous capacity for love and compassion.