by Lizette Garcia
A year ago, my life changed after my family adopted our first pet, a dog named Hermie.
My family adopted Hermie from San Jose’s Animal Shelter a year ago. When I saw him, I felt like he was the perfect dog for me due to his small size and black coat with tan furry legs. Hermie is a Silky Terrier mix.
The moment I realized I had a responsibility on my hands was when the 10-pound dog peed near my Christmas tree. There was fear in his eyes because he knew what he did was wrong, but I sensed that he needed my protection.
My hardest challenge was potty training him, which took around three months. Treat after treat, he understood where his personal area was located.
Every child that comes into my house is always asking, “Where is Hermie?” The joy that my dog has brought into my house is unbelievable. A pet is like another family member that we have to include in our family portraits.
I always get a bad gut feeling when I leave home because I don’t know if my dog will run away and I’ll ever see him again. My worst fear is not having him at all since he and I are like buddies.
He makes me smile all the time, especially when I look at his ears moving like a submarine’s periscope or see his four furry legs moving all around the house. I always feel relaxed when I am petting Hermie. He licks my arm, which gives me a feeling of someone caring about me.
During difficult moments, such as when I cry and don’t have anyone for support, Hermie is there. I feel comfortable near my dog, even though he might not understand what I’m saying to him.
For example, this past summer my grandma passed away. My dog stayed near me all the time to just keep me company, since he knew I wasn’t alright by looking at my eyes. He provided me so much support and warmth by being by my side and licking my face.
Owning Hermie has made grow and see that our pets can help us emotionally. Dogs teach people about how to not judge others because a dog doesn’t care about race or skin color. It's more about being caring and loving.
Isn’t it amazing how a pet can make our lives so special? Have you ever had a close connection with a pet before?
My family adopted Hermie from San Jose’s Animal Shelter a year ago. When I saw him, I felt like he was the perfect dog for me due to his small size and black coat with tan furry legs. Hermie is a Silky Terrier mix.
The moment I realized I had a responsibility on my hands was when the 10-pound dog peed near my Christmas tree. There was fear in his eyes because he knew what he did was wrong, but I sensed that he needed my protection.
My hardest challenge was potty training him, which took around three months. Treat after treat, he understood where his personal area was located.
Every child that comes into my house is always asking, “Where is Hermie?” The joy that my dog has brought into my house is unbelievable. A pet is like another family member that we have to include in our family portraits.
I always get a bad gut feeling when I leave home because I don’t know if my dog will run away and I’ll ever see him again. My worst fear is not having him at all since he and I are like buddies.
He makes me smile all the time, especially when I look at his ears moving like a submarine’s periscope or see his four furry legs moving all around the house. I always feel relaxed when I am petting Hermie. He licks my arm, which gives me a feeling of someone caring about me.
During difficult moments, such as when I cry and don’t have anyone for support, Hermie is there. I feel comfortable near my dog, even though he might not understand what I’m saying to him.
For example, this past summer my grandma passed away. My dog stayed near me all the time to just keep me company, since he knew I wasn’t alright by looking at my eyes. He provided me so much support and warmth by being by my side and licking my face.
Owning Hermie has made grow and see that our pets can help us emotionally. Dogs teach people about how to not judge others because a dog doesn’t care about race or skin color. It's more about being caring and loving.
Isn’t it amazing how a pet can make our lives so special? Have you ever had a close connection with a pet before?