Our family has gone to the dogs. Or have they come to us? It doesn’t matter, either way, we are a dog family!
The population of the furry members of our family fluctuates over time; the wise older ones show the young ones the ropes, the young ones ever eager to play and find mischief. Knowing they have a life full of fun, joy and love, and that they’ve passed on their pack/family traditions, personality, and behaviours to the younger members of the pack takes some of the sting away when one passes on.
Our dogs love us, I am certain, even more than we love them. They specifically love my children the most. Our son often somehow arranges them into a giant circle of dog pillows, with him lying cozy in the center, his head on one dogs belly, his legs splayed over two or three more. They all love it.
It doesnt matter what I want to do in the yard, there’s always a wet nose and a wagging tail eager to tag along (or lazily lie watching while I do yard work). 
If I’m watering the flowers on a really hot day, a few of them make sure to come over so that I can cool them down with the water hose, and once they are cool and wet, they bounce around the yard with playful vigour.
This past year has brought both heartache, as we said goodbye to one, and new joy as we welcomed an unexpected new member of the pack. But that’s a story for another day.
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