When you graduate from college but stay living in the area, it can be very difficult to not feel lonely. From my huge group of friends, only two of us graduated in May, while most of the others still have one or two years left. The job I got after graduating didn't require me to move anywhere, so I was going to live exactly where I lived last year, but all my friends would still be going to class and meeting on campus. It was at this moment of realization that I took one very important decision: I was going to get a dog.

My parents both trusted me with the responsibility, but didn't think it'd be the best idea anyway, as I live alone – with two roommates, but they don't really count. Agreeing with my parents before they even suggested it, I'd already decided that I was not getting a puppy and I obviously couldn't get a big dog, seeing that my apartment wouldn't be fit for it.

I went online every single day, checking all the available dogs to adopt at the closest shelter to my place. I laid eyes on an Australian Shepherd I wanted to call Quentin, but he sadly got adopted short after. I thank the Universe for now allowing me to adopt him, though, because he would've been very unhappy in my apartment, since Australian Shepherds are very active.

From nowhere appeared this gorgeous black and white Pointer called Arya, that was the right size I was looking for, spayed, almost four years old, and house-trained; it was as if the shelter got her specifically for me. I called a friend and offered him lunch in exchange of taking me to the shelter and so we went, very impulsively, to the shelter. I saw Arya and she didn't seem to connect with me, but I knew she was going to be perfect, just by reading her file.

Since then, Arya has been my companion and it's a decision I'm very glad I made. Arya is sweet, smart, very loving and protective of me; she barks every time someone knocks on a door, even if it isn't even in my apartment.

All the pieces seemed to fit perfectly, really. Her house-training made her extremely easy to adapt to my apartment, and now it's like we read each other's minds. I think I can compare it having a child of your own, knowing him so well that you don't need words to know what's happening.

Working from home, I know I'd be very lonely and bored if it wasn't for her. Also, she makes me go out and take some sunlight, which I probably wouldn't do much otherwise. She likes to play, but will get tired quickly and give me time to work, which is just ideal.

She seems to like humans a lot, but especially women. She always let strange women pet her, and my female friends are always very glad to see Arya, as she is almost as sweet with them as she's with me. It's another story with men, though; unless it's one of my friends who goes to my place regularly, Arya feels every man is an intruder.

Getting a dog has really changed my life. It made me create a routine for myself, go out on walks four times a day, know what it is to take care of a life, and, most importantly, gave me a companion to spend my boring days of work with. Having Arya convinced me even more that I want to have kids, and I think she'd be a great nanny for them in her senior years.

Dogs are awesome.