I might as well get one thing straight with you right now: I have a dog, and the dog is as part of me as I am a part of it.
My dog's name is "Sweetie", and she is an apple-headed Chihuahua. I have had her for the past two years and I happen to love her very much. She doesn't like strangers at first, but once she gets to know someone, then she's their friend for life.