Our animals are loved in our home just like children.... we have 4 of each!   Given that my husband and I are both very busy professionals, it keeps our lives hectic, but centered.   Our  4 boys are all teenagers now ranging in age from 14 - 19 and very busy with their own lives.  Fortunately, our animals are much younger!  
 
We rescued what the Vet believed was K-9 trained 3 yr. old German Shepard (Lady) that  required round the clock care for about 4 weeks.  She weighed in at 38 lbs. when we found her.  She is now a happy 90+ lb. girl and continuing on with some basic training.  She will never go back into full service, but it's just important to her self-esteem that she knows she's protecting us.  She has the most gentle heart of any animal I have ever seen.  If any of the other animals eat from her bowl, she just patiently waits until they're finished.  She has even taken on the task of mothering our cat, including bathing him.  Of course with the size of that tongue, about 3 licks and she's done.

Our 2 little babies are a 9 lb. Yorkie-Poo (Holly) and a 7 lb. Malteranian (Lacy).  And spoiled babies they are!!!   They see no reason that their precious little paws should touch the ground any more than absolutely necessary.  At night they sleep wrapped around my head.  No chance of getting a draft...... :>)

My dream some day is to add a couple of alpacas to our little menagerie.  I'm not interested in breed quality, pet quality is just fine.  However,  I'm going to have to address our space issues first.   Somehow I don't believe that alpacas qualify under our CC&R's.   It would sure be fun to see the look on the HOA board members' faces though as I took them for a stroll through the golf course....hee hee hee  (They are a rather uptight bunch!)

In closing, having to spend too much time in the dog-eat-dog corporate world (pardon the pun) my animals help me keep my sanity and my focus.  They help me to remember to see the goodness in the world.  They love unconditionally, no agendas, no strings attached.

I hope anyone reading this message has the opportunity to truly experience the love of an animal.  

BUT PLEASE!  THEY REQUIRE YOUR LOVE AND DEVOTION IN RETURN.  DO NOT GET A PET IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE THEM THE TIME, ATTENTION AND CARE THEY DESERVE!!!!  (Not just when they're cute puppies and kittens, but when they're adults too!)