This is the last article I am writing for my Odyssey team, Lehigh Valley. They are a diverse group of people writing articles ranging from insightful to funny to incredibly brave and honest. It has been a great ride, but it's time for me to take a step back.

In any case, as I sat here assuaging my sadness with a decaf coffee and cuddles from my foster dog, I realized something: animals have made my life better too many times to count. I’ll share five of my favorite memories below, and I hope to see some of your favorite memories in the comments.

1.They accept you exactly as you are.

The above is not an actual photo of my first dog, but this dog has a strong resemblance to her. Sadly, I didn't have any pictures with adequate image quality. (Image Credit: here.)

My first dog was the perfect example of unconditional acceptance. I often wish I could have a do over with her today. She saw me transform from a ten year old who wanted to be a veterinarian to a teenager slipping her too many table scraps during a bout with anorexia to a college student struggling to spend as much time with her as she deserved. I was not nearly as fun or attentive a dog owner as I am to my current dog. Yet through all of it, she really just wanted to be petted, walked, and given some tasty food. She absorbed many tears and saw much frustration, but she never stopped seeing me as her number one person.

2.They are a litmus test for potential friends.

If that cuteness doesn't make you squeal with delight, this relationship is probably doomed from the start. (Image Credit: Anna Blake)

I’m not saying I would never be friends with someone who doesn’t love animals. We all have our own experiences, and I don’t expect my friends who have had rat infestations to immediately fall in love with my rats. However, finding out someone is a fellow animal lover makes me feel more bonded with that person. In fact, my husband’s treatment of his dogs and cats was one of the top characteristics that attracted me to him. Fellow rat lovers are a particularly rare and treasured find. If I find out someone has rats, I have to get their phone number.

3.They puke and pee and generally make a mess.

It's a good thing puppies are such cute little buggers. (Image Credit: Keli Schimelpfenig)

This may not sound like a life improvement, but hear me out. While I may not have enjoyed ducking out of my dog’s stream of vomit on a long car ride at the time, it is a staple story in our amusing family story repertoire. Just like how no one expects the Spanish Inquisition, no one expects the dog to puke at the same exact time the car’s axle bends. The laughter these kinds of situations evoke is good for the soul.

This constant mess-making is also good for people who aren’t particularly motivated to keep after the dust bunnies. I may be able to ignore some crumbs on my floor, but if there’s poop or pee on the floor, I’m going to have to get out my paper towels and Nature’s Miracle cleaner and get to work. Having a clean house always boosts my mood.

4.They bring a sense of calm during exam week.

Who can be sad when they're looking at a smile that genuine? (Image Credit: Anna Blake)

I don’t know about your university, but mine actually brings in therapy dogs on a regular basis. There’s nothing quite like running into a big, fluffy pupper when you’re stressed to the max and about to take an exam. I’m fortunate that I live off campus in a pet-friendly home, so I even have my own animals to pet when I am studying. Whether it’s a rat on my shoulder or a dog at my feet, I always feel better with a quiet friend by my side.

5.“He might only be here for a part of your life, but for him, you are his whole life.” –Unknown

I'm glad I have so many good looking animals in my life. (Image Credit: My husband.)

It is easy for me to get caught up in the future or the past. Animals, however, are able to be focused on the now. I remember what my veterinarian told me the day I had to put down my beloved golden retriever. He said, “It’s harder for us to make the decision to let our pets go because we’re thinking about ‘She’ll never sit by the pool again. What about next summer?’ We look forward to the future and think about what our pets will miss out on. But she isn’t thinking like that. She isn’t thinking ‘I’ll never get to experience that again.’ She enjoyed it while it was happening, but she hasn’t made plans that you are ruining for her by letting her pain be over. She takes things as they come.”

My pets give me perspective. While it is likely I will live another fifty or sixty years, some of my pets will realistically only live a few more months. My pets remind me of the inevitability of death and the importance of appreciating my time with them. When I take time to slow down for my pets, I also remember to slow down and appreciate my own life.

How do pets make your life better? Please share your favorite pet memories and stories in the comments below. I’d love to hear how your pets have touched your life.