ABSTRACT
IntroductionOne of my first childhood memories is riding home in the back seat of my parents’ car after picking up my first dog. She was a black toy poodle named J. J. (Her official name was Poodle Town’s Black Jade Princess, but that was far too complex for a two-year-old. So, J. J. it was.) I was so excited! J. J. and I were best friends throughout my childhood. We spent countless hours playing together in our California backyard, and she patiently allowed me to dress her in doll clothes and push her down the street in my doll carriage. She was my best friend, and she always seemed to understand when no one else could. I had no idea how much J. J. would change my life. She unleashed my love for dogs and showed me how powerful the human-animal bond could be.
