Roaming rugged Texas landscape, Lisa twisted through thorns and avoided cacti with her dachshund, Sugar II, trailing close behind. Just like my mother, adventures with the family dog fill my childhood memories. Canine adoration runs in my family, and my mother and I constantly search for any chance to surround ourselves with dogs. While discussing house pets, our family friend plainly stated, “If someone dislikes dogs I find them suspicious because what is there not to love about them?” Even though some individuals lack a passion for dogs, domestic dogs play a role in the lives of 36.5% of homes in the United States (“U.S…”). Dog ownership benefits people in mental and even physical ways. Children can learn responsibility, gratitude, and servitude by owning a dog. Hyper and at the age of nine, I claimed short term memory loss made me forget to make my bed and clean the bathroom, and eventually my parents determined that owning a dog would teach me responsibility better than any chore. This succeeded because unlike …show more content…
Research suggests dogs have the ability to read human emotions and know how to respond to them (Bushak). These qualities and their sense of loyalty may factor in to why dogs serve with therapist and even as guidance dogs for the blind. Percy, my dog, knows not a single trick, but my mother and I believe he understands and knows when to comfort us. Even though Percy never earned a therapy dog certificate, my mom uses him as one when she walks Percy to an elderly couple’s house. Mr. Rich and Mrs. Brenda adore dogs, but since Mr. Rich cannot move from the waist down owning a dog would come with a new set of difficulties. During a visit, Mrs. Brenda pulled my mother aside and thanked her for bringing Percy over weekly and said that after Percy leaves Mr. Rich changes from sullen to cheerful. Spending time with dogs has the ability to boost