There’s no better confidant than a pet. No judgmental words, no angry outburst, no disagreeing…just someone to listen. Most have a dog or a cat, some have a bird, or a hamster, or a bearded dragon. Neither size nor number of legs change the fact that nothing beats growing up with a pet by your side.

Being five years old means living in a world of wonder - adding a pet to that equation multiplies that by several times. Being able to jump up on the couch with your pet in your lap while you watch cartoons (even if that pet is a 65-pound German Shepherd mix) is the best way to spend a Sunday morning. Being able to ramble on and on about anything and everything to your pet after your long hard day of kindergarten is the best way to unwind. It’s the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

At 5 years old, I came home to be surprised with our newly adopted dog. We’d had dogs before, but I was too young to really remember them. We had met her the week before when we visited the MSPCA; her name was Brigid, she had a bandanna around her neck, and she loved leaning against the kennel so you would pet her. Out of all the probably hundreds of dogs I’ve met in that shelter over the years, I’ve never remembered another so clearly. We named her Maggie, but I always told everyone her middle name was Brigid and her last name was a combination of all of the last names in my family.

Growing up alongside a pet really creates a special bond. Whether it’s your own pet that’s bonded with you or the family pet that has a special bond with everyone, that special bond that you share with your pet as you grow up together is like no other.

As I grew older, I really began to appreciate the fact that I had such an amazing pet in my life. Going into my teen years, I loved having that same nonjudgemental ear I’d always had growing up. I would sit on the floor while nobody was home and I would just vent and talk to her about how much I loved her. We had her for 13 years and she never said a word back to me, but she was the best listener.

When things get dark pets are there, and when you don’t want to rely on anyone else or have no one else to rely on, a pet will always offer comfort no matter how furry or scaly they are. They become our friends. The only problem is that they’re not around nearly as long as they deserve to be.

Two summers ago, Maggie’s health began to decline. On her last morning I laid down with her for about ten minutes and just talked to her. Not everyone has what one would arguably call the privilege of knowing when their pet will no longer be with them, but I took the chance to say my goodbyes and I watched as she left our house for the last time.

No matter how hard the

goodbye is, the hello and the time spent together will always outshine the sadness of loss. Nothing in the world beats having a pet by your side because no matter what happens around you, as long as your pet is there, you will always have a friend.