Pets are the Best Friends That We Don't Deserve

I spent a long time debating getting a dog before I finally gave in. I was worried that I wouldn't train my dog correctly, or make enough time for her, given I was in my second year in college. I knew I wanted an active dog that would encourage me to run and go outside. Just after my 20th birthday, I went to see if I could find a golden retriever puppy I had seen online. By the time I got there, the golden was already gone. The medium-sized dogs left were a chocolate lab and two huskies - one red and one black. My parents were fawning over the red huskies. The two girls were jumping over each other and wrestling in their shared pen.

I was allowed to hold a dog I liked, so I asked to see the red husky. The employee safely dropped her off in my arms and she curled up there, just content being held. She was only three months old so most of her head was taken up by her ears. Her fur was so soft because her baby coat had not yet developed into an adult coat. She smelled like baby powder from the cologne they sprayed her with. I was so nervous because I didn't know the first thing about training a husky or their temperament. But I knew they were meant to run and pull sleds for miles. She was panting softly, watching as my parents talked with the employees. I scratched behind her ears and asked, "Do you want to come home with me?" She looked up and licked my face as I laughed. I took that as a yes and we've been inseparable since. I decided over the next couple of days that the name Shiloh suited her most.

It was a lot of hard work and training in the beginning. She would have accidents, chew on my carpet, and have blasts of energy. I was determined to maintain strict training because I heard how stubborn huskies could be. After the first nine months, it became easier and we settled into a routine. The timing was lucky. I got her a few months before COVID-19 shut down the world as we knew it. It was a turbulent time in my life. Many bad things happened at once in my family and my relationships. I was starting an internship that would prepare me for my future career and my classes were only getting hard. My stress was at an all-time high. I worked on class assignments for hours, often forgoing food or social activities.

Shiloh wasn't as easy to ignore. She would talk, growl, and howl at me to go for walks and to the dog park. These breaks forced me to go outside and take much needed breaks. I looked forward to spending time with her. It forced me to take better care of myself and make friends at the dog park. I would tell her the issues I was having in school and pet her whenever I was feeling sad. It was lucky I got her before the pandemic started because without her, I doubt I would have gone outside as much as I should have. With her around, I never felt completely alone. She is as expressive and talkative as any person I've met!

I think so many people value their pets for the same reason. To have an animal give you unconditional love without judgment and always stay by your side during your best and worst moments is a beautiful experience. It may be a lot of work and vet visits, but I couldn't imagine what life would be like if I hadn't gotten Shiloh when I did. As she turns 3 years old this weekend, I like to look back at my life with a loud, sassy husky. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.