“Love the animals. God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Don’t trouble it, don’t harass them, don’t deprive them of their happiness, don’t work against god’s intent.” -Fyodor Dostoevsky The day I was born and brought home from the hospital, I was welcomed into my new home by two adult male cats who already took up residence there. Some of my earliest memories involve my interactions with those two cats and I believe those early experiences led me to always choose to live with a pet. The unconditional love our pets offer us is so endless and infinite and I believe my childhood cats and dogs, more than anyone or anything else, taught me how to love and respect others with such a deep level of care, compassion and empathy. I often wonder if the world would be a more loving and peaceful place if people chose to love one another in the same unconditional way our cats and dogs love us. I worked at a doggy daycare and boarding facility for a few years and shadowed a veterinary technician. From those experiences I learned how to provide all different forms of care for animals including: administering oral medications, checking on the animal's overall physical health and wellbeing, watching for signs of distress or discomfort, and how to manage a yard full of dogs of all different sizes, needs, ages, and personality types.