When we first brought her home, she had never seen grass before. She was amazed by its texture and the feel of it in her dark black fur. Her puppy wrinkles covered her eyes and made her lips so big that she hid dog treats in them. She still snores when she sleeps and even sometimes when she’s not asleep because of the weight her wrinkles put on her nasal passages. Her name is Springsteen Rosalita Sumner after the famed Bruce Springsteen, and despite her hyperactivity she is one of my three closest friends.

Ever since I can remember, I have had a dog to call my best friend. The unconditional love I have received is incomparable to any other love. For my dogs, I will love them for their entire lives while they will leave a lasting impression on me long after passing. This love is carried almost like a marriage: For better or for worse, in sickness and in health.

About a year ago my family adopted our middle dog, Harley Dogginson (a play on the Harley Davidson motorcycle company) to join our other dog, Jesse, in company. Harley brightened Jesse’s world and brought new meaning to her life. I guess Jesse adopted Harley, acting kind of like a grandma. Jesse Jane, my current dog of 13 years, has a tumor on her liver causing her to lose weight drastically. She also has arthritis in her joints but overall thrives and is as happy as she has ever been.

When my family brought home Springsteen, it was a shock to the system. Harley was used to getting a majority of the attention, but with puppy training and a special diet concentrated with more fat to make her gain weight, Springsteen needed a very watchful eye. Harley would not look at me for three days, but eventually she warmed up to the puppy and was glad to have someone who could keep up with her.

Having a puppy has taught me what it is like to care for another living thing that needs so much attention. The care puppies need is time consuming and can be overwhelming. Puppies chew and require house training and frequent vet visits. Springsteen is currently 12 weeks old and has torn my slippers to shreds. Her vet visits are every two weeks and require stool samples every so often. With the encouragement of my other two dogs, Springsteen’s house training is getting better, but she still has her bad days. This is a lot to take on but is worth it for the reward of a lifetime of love. From financial costs to illnesses, one must be able to take the pet to the veterinarian and not let the pet suffer.

Dogs are the most lovable creatures, but they can have medical problems. Purebreds are especially known for having medical problems because of inbreeding. Jesse and Springsteen are both shar-peis. Originally Chinese fighting dogs, the shar-pei is a protective, but very sweet breed. Skin and eye issues and allergies are common problems.

Do not discount mixed breed dogs because these are just as lovable, with a tendency to have less health problems, at a substantially better cost. Harley Doggionson is mix between a yorkie and a shih tzu. She has had no health problems to date, and with hypoallergenic fur, is a blessing to allergy sufferers. She does require a grooming every so often, but this is to keep the fur out of her eyes and knots to a minimum.

Doing the research on a certain breeds of dogs is imperative before adopting. Making sure the dog will fit within the family lifestyle is important to make sure he or she does not end up back in a shelter or on the streets. Smaller dogs work better for apartment living and smaller back yards, while larger dogs require spacious living. Also, making sure that dogs play well with children is a necessity for families with small children. My friend Jonmarcus adopted his dog from the Carrollton Animal Shelter and has only had only positive experiences because he and his family researched before adopting. Now he has had his dog for two years and could not imagine never adopting his lovable dog.

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is observed each year on April 30. This day was created to raise awareness for the thousands of pets waiting in shelters to be adopted. Adopting a pet is the biggest gift that someone can give an animal. Whether a dog, cat or bird fits the family life better, it is important to give those waiting for adoption a chance at a loving family.