Animals have always been a part of my life. I grew up surrounded by pets; my dad has two dogs, my brother’s family has three cats, and now my in-laws have two dogs. From ages 10 to 16, I had two Shih Tzus. For two years, I lived with my brother and helped care for his three cats. Since I was in my 20s they told me to cover my "rent" was to take care of the house, which included ma taking care of the cats. Since then, I’ve always been the person friends and family rely on when they need someone to watch their pets. Back when I lived in Korea, I volunteered at animal shelters, (which I heard run differently than here) helping care for dogs and supporting general shelter needs. In my spare time, I also visited dog cafés (very popular thing there) just to get my fix of "animal love". Sadly, my wife is allergic to animals, so we can’t have pets in our home. That’s one reason I value opportunities to care for others’ pets, it allows me to stay connected to something I’ve loved my entire life. Even with her allergies, she has a strong affinity for animals. Her mother was a veterinarian, and I’ve gained valuable knowledge about proper pet care through that family background as well. From the great knowledge she and her family has given me, I am glad I am able to take care of these pets all on my own. I live a very active lifestyle, I run every other day and go to the gym on alternating days, so I have the energy and stamina for long walks, play sessions, and high-energy dogs.