I was raised on a farm before my dad joined the US Army. Our family always had a dog, cat, hamster, and fish; however, my grandparents always had cats indoors, several strays outdoors, and at least 1 dog. I have continued on with a houseful of animals because they bring so much joy. My oldest son has Autism, and animals have been wonderful for him. Both of my boys have harnessed the love for nature and animals because it has run in our family. We lost our 16 year old chihuahua in February 2017, our 9 year old guinea pig in 2019 (YES, he was 9), and gained a 3rd cat all within 2 years. The kids and I want more, but my husband put his foot down so I thought that pet sitting/dog walking would help fulfill my need to love more animals.