I've grown up around dogs my whole life. I've never owned one, but most of my friends and relatives have been dog people, and I've been dog sitting for neighbors since I was big enough to hold on to a golden retriever. I've often been told I have a gift for soothing and communicating with animals, even the difficult ones. The local pet shop calls me "the cat whisperer" and I've met many of my neighbors simply because their dogs refused to pass me without saying hello. I recently met a dog who tried to jump up on my (to his owner's horror), but his arms landed on mine, so we just danced a little, instead. I work a shift job part time, which means my hours are not always the same. But it also means that I'm often home during parts of the day when you might not be.