All little children want a pet, a companion, a puppy to be specific. When I was younger all I wanted was a puppy, and when I pleaded with my parents for that puppy I received a mirage of excuses and denials: we aren't home enough to take care of a dog, you won't be able to take care of it, and so on. Though my desire for a puppy was put on hold, the need for a dog never diminished. I was determined to have a puppy of my own. I remember running over to pet neighborhood dogs and spending time with my friend's dogs. I love everything about dogs: their cute noses, their sloppy kisses, their ability to express unconditional love by just cuddling with you, how they play and jump, their little barks, and even their wet dog smell.

When my parents, finally, got our family a puppy, I was over the moon. My heart was so full of love and happiness for this tiny creature that I had known for five minutes, that I thought it might burst. I loved everything about him: his tiny, furry black and white body, the way his nose wiggled as he licked at my fingertips and face, how he immediately filled the missing piece in our family. A dog is truly man's best friend.

You never realize how important a dog can become to your family until you have one. Their constant presence reminds you that even on your worst days there is something out there that loves you no matter what. A dog can sense when something isn't right, and his or her being with you can automatically brighten your day. These innocent creatures live to please you, but they don't realize how much they truly enrich the lives of their owners.

Honestly, my dog was the best thing to happen to my family. He has wiggled his way into the heart of every single person in my family, and will forever stay there. When I am not around my dog, I find myself missing how he used to run and throw his toys in excitement whenever someone comes home, or how he perches himself on the footrest of the couch, unknowingly warming our toes. My dog, Max, is the heart and soul of our family, and none of us could see a life without having known him.

Once you are a dog owner, it becomes clear that each dog has their own special personality, very much like humans. They have facial expressions, different barks to express different emotions, they can be grouchy, or complacent, or be riled up. Having a dog in your life is a blessing, one I cannot imagine living without. Max has filled a space within our family that no one knew was even there, and makes all our lives that much happier and full of love.