I can’t imagine my life without a dog in it. When I was a child, we were not allowed to have pets in the house. My Mother did not like them or allow them in the house. When I was married the first time, my ex husband did not want the responsibility of a dog. He always promised our youngest daughter that she could have a dog when we finally had a house and he was hopping mad when I made him keep that promise for Samantha’s eighth birthday!!!

Then after my second divorce, my son-in-law got me a puppy for Valentine’s Day. That was my “Angel” and she has been with me for eight years now. When my daughter and son-in-law picked up Angel for me, they ended up getting her brother, Wishbone. Now he lives with Angel and me. As I write this, Wishbone is curled up at my feet and Angel is laying behind my chair.

Dogs bring so much joy to my life (cleaning up poop in the yard, barf on the carpet–O.K. it’s not all fun and games!!!). I don’t understand people who don’t have dogs or want them! They really don’t know what they are missing! People with pets are generally in better health, they have lower blood pressure (unless they have a Jack Russell Terrier-see Set Up To Fail) and they have a purpose.

Dogs accept you just the way you are with all your warts, blemishes, and faults. They don’t care if your hair is standing straight up in the morning (I’m pretty sure mine is caused by sleeping on the top of my head although I haven’t figured out how I manage to get in that position), they don’t care if you look scary without your makeup (who needs a Halloween mask) , they don’t care if you are twenty pounds overweight (they will snack with you anytime), they still love you when you are grumpy, and they don’t care how “successful” you are!!!

If you have ever wanted to know how it feels to be a “movie star”, get yourself a dog. Because every time you come home, you will be treated as if you were one. Wishbone is on the sofa with his front paws up on the arm by the door and it is not just his tail wagging-his WHOLE BODY wags! Angel is right there at the door and her tail and hindquarters are wagging (it”s a little harder for her; she has more to wag than Wishbone). They greet you with an enthusiasm that is hard to match. (Hence, the reason I have dogs and NOT a husband!) Wishbone gets so excited he cannot contain himself and he barks, talks, and sings to me (Thank God he doesn’t pee when he’s excited!!). And here’s the AMAZING part-it doesn’t matter if you have been gone five minutes or five hours or five days–the greeting is the same!!!! I know what it feels like to be Julia Roberts!!

If you can own a dog and still suffer from an extremely low self esteem; PLEASE call Dr. Phil!! You have SERIOUS issues!! To your dog you are the most important person on the planet!! You are the most beautiful creature ever created; you are incredibly intelligent and every word that is uttered from your mouth is profound!! Your very presence brings great joy (Oh keeper of the treats!). So move over Julia Roberts!! Roll out the red carpet—I’m home!!