It's a dog's life

Anyone who knows me knows about my intense love of animals. Anyone who has been to our home knows that we have a small menagerie living amongst us.
And luckily for me, my husband was well aware of my animal appreciation before he married me. I had 3 dogs when we met, and we have 3 dogs now. So not that much has changed, except now we also have 3 children, 2 cats, a tortoise, a hamster, a goldfish and the chickens. But let me start with the dogs. Our Goldendoodle, Bella, is an all around perfect dog. She is well behaved, very loving, very playful, and a good watch dog. She only barks if people come to the door, and she loves, loves, loves our children! Then we have Lulu, our Lhasa apso/Bichon mix, and she started out being my dog, but now she is very much Roger's dog. She has melted him with her charms and wit. Yes, wit. She is hands down, the funniest dog I have ever known. She does this thing when she is feeling friendly where she will drag her hind legs around the floor in circles, the whole time batting her eyes at her target. She also snores, and grunts, and is 100% trusting of us. She makes me smile a million times a day. Then we have Ozzy, the tiny Papillon who we rescued from his second owner who didn't want him anymore. And we cannot imagine who wouldn't want such a wonderful dog. He is perfect. Smart. Beautiful. Sweet. Good. He has no flaws. He came to us very malnurished, very sickly and thin. But we got him all fixed up, and now he is a gorgeous little guy. People stop me in the street to ask me what kind of dog he is. I have even had someone offer to buy him from me. I always tell Rog, I wouldn't give him up for a million dollars! He is the sweetest, most gentle little soul. The perfect lap companion and I can take him everywhere with me. And I can't forget to mention Scout, our recued cat who I got at "Meet your best friend at the zoo", 11 years ago. He was a tiny kitten, and now he is a majestic pure white cat. He comes and goes as he pleases, unaffected by dogs or any other animal that enters the home. Just an easy going, good guy. And our latest addition is the kitten, Mittens. She was free from a lady in Metamora, along with her littermates, so we took her home. She is sweet, and playful, and a fun little girl. She reminds me of Scout when he was little, and I know she will be a great pet for the kids.
So, my days, as busy as they are, are always filled with joy from these amazing pets. I wake up and the dogs are all looking at me, so happy to see me, licking various parts of my body and wagging their tails. It's a wonderful way to start a day! And they are always there if you need a lift. Always loyal, always ready for anything. They are the same way with our kids, the dogs love them immensely. Bella swims with the boys and watches them like a hawk. If they get too far away from her view, she swims out to get them. She is very protective, very noble. And if anyone is sick and bed-bound, the dogs will stay in that bed the entire time, keeping the sick person company, and sleeping next to them.
Of course there are times in the midst of chaos, where I imagine what it would be like without pets, without the added stress it can sometimes bring, but it would like not having kids. Unfulfilling. We manage it well. We work as a team. Our house is never boring or quiet or calm. But it is always, ALWAYS, full of life and love. And I wouldn't want it any other way.