I was a pet parent to a dog called Riley, a cute lovable sheltie in the past. I took care of him for 5 long years, almost since when he was a puppy. Riley helped me understand animals better. I quickly bonded with Riley well and got over fear of dogs, My relationship with this loving dog grew to the point where I treated him with the same level of respect and care, that I would give a human kid, He and I were thick and inseparable. We went on long walks and played fetch and soccer. He proved to be a formidable defender. I established a kind of language with him, which he seemed to understand. I got to know the kinds of leashes that he was okay with, and did my best to teach him how not to pull all the time, which he did anyway. Everything that a responsible pet owner would I did and excelled at it. I took great care of his teeth, made sure he got his shots on time, brushed his hair, and gave him all the petting and play time he needed. Being with Riley (and a couple other dogs), has taught me deep compassion, kindness and loyalty.