"If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Beyond my lifelong love of dogs. I have over 13 years of personal experience raising, training, and caring for them. My most rewarding experience came from spending a year in Rajasthan, India, where nearly all dogs are strays and are not generally welcomed by society. I became to slowly earn the trust of the strays living around my house, eventually feeding them, bathing them, removing parasites from their bodies, and even house-training them. Caring for dogs who are afraid of humans and are understandably aggressive or territorial, taught me the importance of being assertive and earning a dog's respect. I love dogs, I form healthy bonds quickly with them, I know how to care for them, and I appreciate the responsibility of the privilege of caring for a member of your family.