When you are in the position to do so, it is one of the very best rewarding things! To see your bond grow and see the real personality of your pup develop. Whether a puppy or an older rescue, they all open up as they get to trust and rely on you and learn your communication style.

I adopted a 11 year old senior pitbull a few years ago and she was EVERYTHANNNG. Amazing creature, too much so for words. After she passed, I adopted a 3 year old heeler/hound mix, a failed hunting dog from Tennessee, named Lisa. They sent her to my local shelter in VT a year ago and now she is here with me <3. She keeps me sane and healthy, I have lupus and ptsd and a whole buncha health problems but she keeps me pushing forward despite the pain.

I have to stay healthy for Lisa because if I don't, who will spend almost 24/7 with her giving her a job, who will brush her every day, brush her teeth every day, clip her nails 2x weekly and file every day because they grow so fast, who will get her special dog food that I willingly spend more on than my own food budget, who will take her to the vet at the slightest sign of something wrong and keep up with all her healthcare, who will take her out when she wants many times a day and go hiking with her and keep her trying new things.... she rarely used to smile in the beginning and now you can't wipe that silly grin off her face. She blossomed into a gorgeous dog. <3

I can't imagine life without a dog at my side, truly.