Colt M.
My family has had a few dogs throughout my life, but only one during a time of my life I remember. Tiberius, or if we want to use his full name Tiberius Augustus Nero Julius James Kurt “The Dog” McGuire, was a gift for my dad for Father’s Day. The gift followed the almost stereotypical father reaction of him claiming he did not want the dog, followed by him becoming incredibly attached to him. Because of this strong bond between the two, Tiberius reminded me of my dad, even while he was deployed overseas. Even though my dad was not physically there, Tiberius felt like and extension of him.
Watching my dad interact with Tiberius was unlike any other interaction I saw my dad have. He is almost always a rather serious man, never really expressing his emotions on the outside, but with Tiberius it was different. My father loved him and expressed in in ways I had never seen before. It was different from the ways he interacted with my siblings and me. He was more outwardly expressive and showed a wider spectrum of emotions. This is not to say that I thought my dad did not love me and my siblings, quite the opposite actually. His expression of love for Tiberius showed me that he expresses himself in different ways with different people. It took a while for me to realize this, and the way that my dad expressed his love for me was not a way I recognized as loving for a long time. However, once I recognized so many of his past actions and acts of love in a way I was unable to before. This realization through Tiberius helped me connect more with my father in a way that has permanently changed my relationship with him for the better.
Last year, Tiberius passed away and I vividly remember seeing my dad cry for days this sight was incredibly moving for me as it was such a rare sight to see my dad so outwardly affected. This came at a time in my life where I was going through a lot of intense emotions, and seeing this made me feel more comfortable reaching out and connecting with my dad. I had never really been able to connect emotionally with my dad, and Tiberius was on of the first ways in which I was able to. Although I wish I had understood my dad sooner, I am always grateful for Tiberius not only for his company, but also for the understanding he provided me.
My family has had a few dogs throughout my life, but only one during a time of my life I remember. Tiberius, or if we want to use his full name Tiberius Augustus Nero Julius James Kurt “The Dog” McGuire, was a gift for my dad for Father’s Day. The gift followed the almost stereotypical father reaction of him claiming he did not want the dog, followed by him becoming incredibly attached to him. Because of this strong bond between the two, Tiberius reminded me of my dad, even while he was deployed overseas. Even though my dad was not physically there, Tiberius felt like and extension of him.
Watching my dad interact with Tiberius was unlike any other interaction I saw my dad have. He is almost always a rather serious man, never really expressing his emotions on the outside, but with Tiberius it was different. My father loved him and expressed in in ways I had never seen before. It was different from the ways he interacted with my siblings and me. He was more outwardly expressive and showed a wider spectrum of emotions. This is not to say that I thought my dad did not love me and my siblings, quite the opposite actually. His expression of love for Tiberius showed me that he expresses himself in different ways with different people. It took a while for me to realize this, and the way that my dad expressed his love for me was not a way I recognized as loving for a long time. However, once I recognized so many of his past actions and acts of love in a way I was unable to before. This realization through Tiberius helped me connect more with my father in a way that has permanently changed my relationship with him for the better.
Last year, Tiberius passed away and I vividly remember seeing my dad cry for days this sight was incredibly moving for me as it was such a rare sight to see my dad so outwardly affected. This came at a time in my life where I was going through a lot of intense emotions, and seeing this made me feel more comfortable reaching out and connecting with my dad. I had never really been able to connect emotionally with my dad, and Tiberius was on of the first ways in which I was able to. Although I wish I had understood my dad sooner, I am always grateful for Tiberius not only for his company, but also for the understanding he provided me.
Isabella D.
The one most significant animal that has had the greatest impact on my life would have to be my built in best friend, my dog Angel. During one of my Father’s many military training sessions at Naval Air Station, located in Pensacola, Florida, my family and I were boating in an area nearby when we noticed a frail and malnourished puppy running around on this tiny island. It became clear that she had either been dumped there, had jumped off there, or fallen off of someone else’s boat. I spotted her first and started screaming to my Dad to please stop and help her. My 7 year old self had one mission, we had to try to find her owner. Coming from a family of animal advocates with a long history of rescuing stray animals, my parents did not hesitate to go into full on rescue mode. My Dad immediately pulled the boat up onto the shore. This tiny puppy came running directly to me, all the while wagging her little yellow lab mixed tail. She had the sweetest face, a dead crab in her mouth, and no visible source of freshwater. This baby was clearly in extremely rough condition. I distinctly remember my parents giving her some fresh water and I shared my cheese and crackers with her. My parents insisted that we wait there to see if anyone returned to search for their dog but it became abundantly clear that she had been there for a while, as she was covered with fleas. As the sun began to set, my Mother wrapped her up in a towel, and brought her on the boat with us. It was too late to bring her to a veterinarian’s office to get her scanned for a microchip so she stayed with us for the night. I will never forget the moment my mother looked at my dad and said “WE CAN NOT KEEP THIS DOG!” I remember looking up at my dad with this sad face and he smiled at me. What father could say no to this little girl holding a little puppy? He knew I was already falling in love with my new sister. As soon as we arrived at the dock we brought her with us to Walmart, where my mother put her in a shopping cart and we strolled through the isles picking up flea shampoo, puppy food, a leash and a collar, it was like Christmas morning for this little scruffy girl! We took her to the hotel, bathed her, and fed her. Within 10 minutes the both of us were sleeping nose to nose. The next morning we packed up all of her stuff and took her to the local animal shelter. The shelter volunteer scanned her but of course she did not have a microchip. The volunteer asked where we found her and my parents tried to explain that the island was actually in Alabama. The volunteer then proceeded to inform us that taking a dog across state lines was against the law and that we HAD to drop her back off alone on the abandoned island. I remember my Mom and Dad just looking at her in disbelief. After promising to return this emaciated, flea infested, roughly 2 month old puppy back to the deserted island, we hopped in the car with Angel in my arms and headed home. That was 15 healthy and happy years ago, Angel continues to give me unconditional love and devotion. She has been with me through my most challenging times and licked many tears away. Volunteering for animal shelters has been a focal point in my youth and it continues to be the most fulfilling part of my life. I have raised thousands of dollars for Furry Friends animal shelter and have conducted numerous relief missions. I currently volunteer at Metro Animal Shelter in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In between my classes and the weekends I take the longest resident shelter dogs home for overnight stays. I give them a bubble bath, a blowout, a long run, and a cozy night’s rest. Since the completion of my pilot’s license, I have had the privilege of copiloting a cross country flight for a puppy rescue organization that transports dogs from Kill shelters to No Kill shelters. My intentions for this summer are to volunteer for The Puppy Plane, Furry Friends, and get in the air as much as possible!
The one most significant animal that has had the greatest impact on my life would have to be my built in best friend, my dog Angel. During one of my Father’s many military training sessions at Naval Air Station, located in Pensacola, Florida, my family and I were boating in an area nearby when we noticed a frail and malnourished puppy running around on this tiny island. It became clear that she had either been dumped there, had jumped off there, or fallen off of someone else’s boat. I spotted her first and started screaming to my Dad to please stop and help her. My 7 year old self had one mission, we had to try to find her owner. Coming from a family of animal advocates with a long history of rescuing stray animals, my parents did not hesitate to go into full on rescue mode. My Dad immediately pulled the boat up onto the shore. This tiny puppy came running directly to me, all the while wagging her little yellow lab mixed tail. She had the sweetest face, a dead crab in her mouth, and no visible source of freshwater. This baby was clearly in extremely rough condition. I distinctly remember my parents giving her some fresh water and I shared my cheese and crackers with her. My parents insisted that we wait there to see if anyone returned to search for their dog but it became abundantly clear that she had been there for a while, as she was covered with fleas. As the sun began to set, my Mother wrapped her up in a towel, and brought her on the boat with us. It was too late to bring her to a veterinarian’s office to get her scanned for a microchip so she stayed with us for the night. I will never forget the moment my mother looked at my dad and said “WE CAN NOT KEEP THIS DOG!” I remember looking up at my dad with this sad face and he smiled at me. What father could say no to this little girl holding a little puppy? He knew I was already falling in love with my new sister. As soon as we arrived at the dock we brought her with us to Walmart, where my mother put her in a shopping cart and we strolled through the isles picking up flea shampoo, puppy food, a leash and a collar, it was like Christmas morning for this little scruffy girl! We took her to the hotel, bathed her, and fed her. Within 10 minutes the both of us were sleeping nose to nose. The next morning we packed up all of her stuff and took her to the local animal shelter. The shelter volunteer scanned her but of course she did not have a microchip. The volunteer asked where we found her and my parents tried to explain that the island was actually in Alabama. The volunteer then proceeded to inform us that taking a dog across state lines was against the law and that we HAD to drop her back off alone on the abandoned island. I remember my Mom and Dad just looking at her in disbelief. After promising to return this emaciated, flea infested, roughly 2 month old puppy back to the deserted island, we hopped in the car with Angel in my arms and headed home. That was 15 healthy and happy years ago, Angel continues to give me unconditional love and devotion. She has been with me through my most challenging times and licked many tears away. Volunteering for animal shelters has been a focal point in my youth and it continues to be the most fulfilling part of my life. I have raised thousands of dollars for Furry Friends animal shelter and have conducted numerous relief missions. I currently volunteer at Metro Animal Shelter in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In between my classes and the weekends I take the longest resident shelter dogs home for overnight stays. I give them a bubble bath, a blowout, a long run, and a cozy night’s rest. Since the completion of my pilot’s license, I have had the privilege of copiloting a cross country flight for a puppy rescue organization that transports dogs from Kill shelters to No Kill shelters. My intentions for this summer are to volunteer for The Puppy Plane, Furry Friends, and get in the air as much as possible!
Sophia D.
Sandy, my golden retriever, has made such a significant impact on y life and represents a pivotal shift in my perception of dogs that has transformed my fear into a deep affection. Growing up, I had an intense fear of dogs. This fear was so overwhelming that is affected social interactions; friends and family had to secure their pets in another room during my visits, and I would often seek refuge by clinging onto my parents at the sight of a dog nearby.
The turning point came in the fifth grade when my parents thought it would be a good idea to face the fear and get our own dog. I was given the choice of breed and when we went to look at the litter, Sandy stood out from the rest. What made Sandy stand out was that she was the runt. She was smaller and delicate with a calm and gentle demeanor that did not intimidate me like the others. Sandy’s gentle nature was key in helping me overcome my fear. Unlike the more boisterous dogs that had intimidated me before, Sandy’s quiet and loving presence allowed me to feel safe and secure.
Through my daily experiences with Sandy, I learned that dogs, much like people, have varied personalities. Sandy taught me that dogs are capable of immense kindness, gentleness, and affection and that they loved to play and be rowdy sometimes. These lessons were pivotal, as they not only helped me overcome my fear but also led my to love dogs. Sandy’s companionship showed me the joy and unconditional love dogs can offer, changing my perspective entirely.
Today, my love for dogs extends beyond Sandy. Her impact on my life is a testament to the ways animals can influence us, teach us, and help us grow. She transformed my fear into love and not only reshaped my interactions with dogs but also influenced my understanding of overcoming personal fears and embracing new experiences with an open heart.
Sandy, my golden retriever, has made such a significant impact on y life and represents a pivotal shift in my perception of dogs that has transformed my fear into a deep affection. Growing up, I had an intense fear of dogs. This fear was so overwhelming that is affected social interactions; friends and family had to secure their pets in another room during my visits, and I would often seek refuge by clinging onto my parents at the sight of a dog nearby.
The turning point came in the fifth grade when my parents thought it would be a good idea to face the fear and get our own dog. I was given the choice of breed and when we went to look at the litter, Sandy stood out from the rest. What made Sandy stand out was that she was the runt. She was smaller and delicate with a calm and gentle demeanor that did not intimidate me like the others. Sandy’s gentle nature was key in helping me overcome my fear. Unlike the more boisterous dogs that had intimidated me before, Sandy’s quiet and loving presence allowed me to feel safe and secure.
Through my daily experiences with Sandy, I learned that dogs, much like people, have varied personalities. Sandy taught me that dogs are capable of immense kindness, gentleness, and affection and that they loved to play and be rowdy sometimes. These lessons were pivotal, as they not only helped me overcome my fear but also led my to love dogs. Sandy’s companionship showed me the joy and unconditional love dogs can offer, changing my perspective entirely.
Today, my love for dogs extends beyond Sandy. Her impact on my life is a testament to the ways animals can influence us, teach us, and help us grow. She transformed my fear into love and not only reshaped my interactions with dogs but also influenced my understanding of overcoming personal fears and embracing new experiences with an open heart.
