I own a dog, but I don't view it in that way. He is a part of my family; I call him my child, my baby. Raising an animal is no different. You clean up their messes, teach them right from wrong, feed them, play with them, take them for check-ups and provide them with constant attention and affection, as they do to you. I have chosen to make my dog's life the best life it could possibly be because I am all he knows; our family is all he knows. This is his entire life, what he will remember. Dogs remember everything you do, how you treat them and how you speak to them. They may not comprehend what you are saying, but they can differentiate between anger and happiness in your voice.