Like most people, I grew up with dogs. Growing up, I had a German Shepherd but all dogs after Sparky (who passed away when I was in middle school) have been adorable mutts and shelter rescues. I would adopt a dog in a heartbeat if I was in the proper living situation but since I'm not, I spend many afternoons in my apartment with my cat Quentin who's being trained to walk outside on a leash (we're making slow progress). She's dog-friendly, too! I volunteer to look after my friends' dogs to get my dog fix and would love to be able to do it more often. Dogs always brighten up my day and I feel happy knowing that I'm helping look after someone's pet while they're not around.