Being honest, it has always been incredibly easy for me to connect with pets, especially dogs. I now have a 2 year old shihtzu who I absolutely adore and spoil every day. Sometimes I feel like he needs a little brother or a friend to play with, and even when I’m out with him, you’ll still catch me trying to pet every dog we pass. I simply love them deeply. Before having him, I had a Chihuahua for 13 years, and she taught me so much about unconditional love. I’ve also cared for family and friends’ dogs whenever they needed help. One moment that really showed me how naturally I bond with dogs was during a family beach trip, we found a big Boxer in the backyard who barked nonstop and scared everyone away. I was the only one who tried to approach him calmly and understand him. After spending time talking to him through the fence, he eventually trusted me enough to let me pet him. Soon after, I was able to go into the yard with him, and he turned out to be the sweetest dog. My family was shocked at how naturally and confidently I connected with him. That experience, among many others, made me realize how much I truly understand dogs, their fears, their excitement, their need for love, and how much joy it brings me to care for them.