I was nineteen when I got my first dog, and nothing in the world could've prepared me for the ways that furry little puppy was going to change my life. I remember telling my parents how easy I thought it would be, how much I was prepared for her, and how much I needed her. Easy? Nope. Prepared? Not even close. But did I need her? 100%, and I'm reminded every single day, when I wake up to her little paws in my face, just how much I needed her.

This puppy was my first actual look at what real responsibility was because she depends on me for everything; I am her human. I learned very quickly how much work and money went into having a puppy. I learned that a job during college wasn't just something I did, but it became something I had to do. I learned that taking care of a puppy was a little more than just treats and a little bit of work, it was time, frustration, and a whole lot of patience— Something that I quickly found was a quality that I lacked. I learned that puppies don't care if you're tired or busy or have too much schoolwork.. if they want to play fetch, that's exactly what you're going to drop everything to do. And you will, because they're really hard to say no to.

Before having a dog of my own, I never understood what people meant when they said their dog was their best friend, but now I do. Every car ride, hike, and ice cream trip we go on, I truly understand why dogs are a man's best friend. My dog taught me selflessness and happiness. My dog is a part of my family. My dog is the center of my entire world.

When I talk about my dog (which I do, a lot) I'll sometimes hear, "yeah, she's important. But she's just a dog." "She might be a ton of work, but she's just a dog."

She's given me happiness. She's given me something to push through the bad times for. She's given me so, so many laughs. She's given me love. She gave a selfish, nineteen-year-old college student something to call "her own." She changed my life, and for that, she will always be so much more than "just a dog."