I was born into a home with pets. My parents, my grandparents, aunts and uncles, all had pets. It was the most normal thing in the world to have a dog or cat cuddle up to me while I played with my toys, watched movies, or did my homework. It was the best kind of life and I am honoured everyday to have lived in the presence of such amazing animals. I couldn’t imagine my life without a pet. Up until this past March, I had a cat named August. We would go everywhere together, on car rides, camping, even sometimes on walks. He would get excited to run, and probably irritated that he could outrun me, but mostly he loved the car. I had always wanted a dog, but I’m waiting until I own a house, for security and space. In the meantime, I melt into other people’s dogs. I love how excited they get to see me, the love they experience in me before they even know me is overwhelming, and it makes my heart melt. I once had a passenger tip me a large tip because her dog, who hates people, loved me. It makes me feel a little impatient to have one of my own but I’m not there yet. So, until then, I am looking to spend time with, caring, for other people’s dogs. I welcome the opportunity to be a part of a dog’s world, even if only briefly, and hopefully I melt into them as they do into me.