There is something innately beautiful and wonderful in the friendship that is established between a girl and her dog. For me, it was meeting someone who I would love forever and knew they would be my companion for life. My dog was a rescue, who was found wandering with another dog around the Metro-Detroit area. Our cousin told my family that she would possibly be put down due to over-crowding at the local animal shelters. We loved her from the moment we met this gentle little soul. After being homeless for what the vet thought was more than likely a year, she still smiled as if nothing had ever happened to her. The thing about rescue dogs is that they are so grateful you are giving them a second chance at life that you almost instantly bond to them.

As sappy as that sounds, my dog and I became fast friends. We officially adopted Maddie when I was 9 years old, my brother told all his friends that we got her at the gas station because that's where we met her foster family to pick her up. I still have my furry friend, who has seen me at my worst and still loved me. The thing about dogs is all they ask for is a little food, some water, a warm place to lay their heads, give them a few back scratches, and they instantly become your lifelong friend. They are incredible companions and have shown throughout history just how remarkable their capabilities are. From K9 to therapy dogs, I know that first-hand dogs are much more than just a slobbery, furry companion. One of the best things is coming home to my pup, after being away at college for a while. Maddie will almost always be waiting for me at the back door, after watching my car roll up the driveway from her favorite spot in our house. In many ways, people say my family and I saved Maddie, but really she saved us. After losing our puppy Remy a couple months prior, we all felt a void with Maddie that only the love of a dog could provide. Maddie was my best friend who grew up with me, saw me go from nine to 19 and the awkward years in between, and was still there to lick the tears that would trickle down my face, or make me laugh by the way she incessantly begs for food (she can literally hear a bag crackle from the next room).

While Maddie is getting older and can no longer do as much as she could before, watching her curled up on her huge fluffy pillow snoring loudly, fills my heart with happiness, knowing this dog has continued to never let me down and has filled my life with so many laughs and memories. If you’re looking for a bond that can’t be broken, adopt a rescue dog. They are looking for a second chance at life and chances are, so are you. Having a dog renews your outlook on life that all things in this world are not all that bad. Since 2017 has pretty much just begun, why not find a best friend, like my Maddie, who will always be happy to see you, always put a smile on your face, and will always love you? Remember, a bond between a person and their dog is something beautiful, treasure your furry friend forever, because I promise you the love you give that dog will come back to you tenfold in life.