I’ve had the privilege of growing up with dogs, and they’ve shaped me in ways I’ll always carry with me. As a child, I was gifted a Maltese Shih Tzu for Christmas, and bringing her into my life was one of the most meaningful moments I’ve ever experienced. Through her, I learned what unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship truly look like. Losing her was incredibly difficult and changed my world, but it only deepened the love I have for dogs. Today, my family has a mini Australian Shepherd. While she isn’t technically mine, I care for her as if she were. I walk her multiple times a day, take her to the dog park, feed her, play with her, and most importantly, give her all the love I have. My connection with dogs runs deep, and it’s something that’s hard to fully put into words.