Natures other Child: a dog -Jennie Pahl

I never though I could be close to any animal the way I am with my dog. A yeah ago tomorrow I will have had my dog Madisyn, a minature dachshund hound for a year. She is totally the light of my life. Before Madisyn I didn't care for animals and never really wanted one. She was given to me by an old highschool classmate who "didn't have the time to take care of her". From the moment she looked into my eyes I felt like she was my kid. My boyfriend hates the fact that I am soo attatched to her, I go home every weekend just to see her since she can't be up here, and at times I even call during the week to talk to her on the phone (thats odd to admitt!). Regardless I never thought I would let an animal steal my heart the way she has. Its safe to say she just hasn't had an impact on me but also my dad. My dads always been a bit of a hard butt and never let my brothers and I have animals since madisyn has come along I am not allowed to bring her down here b/c he is soo attatched. Well when I was talking to my boyfriends mom she said she had the same experience with her dog. I know I sound obsessive about her but shes my baby! I began to think that maybe this is nature's way of giving you a preparenting experience. I know my next door neighbors where never able to have kids and they have 2 dogs that they call their kids. They swear they were so lucky to have their two labs and love them like children. Are dogs like God's little children too?