I spent this past weekend at home celebrating my mother's birthday with the rest of my family and taking a much-needed recharge after these draining first few weeks back to school. Arguably, one of the best parts of coming home is the moment I walk in the door and my family's pets all come rushing toward me, dogs jumping and cats walking up, waiting to be held.

While sitting surrounded by my animals as though I were a magnet for anything covered in fur, I came to the realization that three of my four pets are adopted strays, with the exception of our Miniature Schnauzer, who we bought from a breeder when I was in the eighth grade.

There's something to be said for adopted strays. Although non-strays don't have any less merit, I admire strays for their resilience and unchanging love for humans despite the harm they may have endured from previous pet parents. Perhaps some strays never had human parents, and in that case, their willingness to trust us without having any prior experience is remarkable. Would you trust a human? Aliens don't even trust us.

If you ever adopt a stray animal, and I hope you do at least once in your lifetime, here is what will happen:

If you give a stray a home...

They'll be a little shy.

They may even be a little scared at first.

But they'll eventually warm up to you.

They'll want to go outside. (After all, that is where you found them.)

Or they won't. (You did just introduce them to a cozy, indoor lifestyle.)

They'll convince you they're always hungry.

And you'll learn to share your food with them like you're in your own little pack.

They'll want your attention 24/7.

And I mean 24/7.

You'll learn to embrace their quirks.

And they'll learn how to comfort you on your worst days.

But most importantly, they'll teach you about unconditional love.

Adopt a stray today!