Time goes by so fast. Over the past four years, I have had one dog by my side at all times, figuratively and literally. I first received my dog in 2020. He was a small Husky puppy. The funny thing is, I liked my downstairs neighbor’s dog. He was a big, loud, always barking Husky.

I liked him, but I thought he was too big, and too loud.I wanted a small dog. Not as small as a Chihuahua, and also not as big as a King Corso, something in the middle.

I spent the last couple of years pestering my parents to get me a dog, but they always said no.  

“No quiero ningún perro en mi casa.” 

Translated, it means “I don’t want any dog in my house.”

I understood why their answer was always no, I was irresponsible and never took anything seriously. 

In particular, I begged for a hamster for around a year on and off. My parents thought I was too young. Somehow, I convinced them and got a pet hamster. I was so excited. I played with him, made a really amazing cage with all the toys and bedding. I went on vacation to El Salvador with my family. I failed to get anyone to take care of him while we were gone.

 I completely forgot about him, to be honest. When we came home two weeks later, he was gone. He had died. I felt terrible. I had failed as a pet owner. My parents were proven right. I was not responsible enough.

That would all change in the year 2020, around Christmas time. My dad brought home a little Husky. 

I was sitting at my desk at that time, playing Fortnite, and I heard all the commotion going down in the background because I had my headphones up to 1000, in a muffled tone, I heard my little brother saying “oh my God!” I turned around and BOOM! I saw my dog.

I said, “Es como el perro de abajo?”  

Now, looking back, this is no way to select a dog, but I was happy all of those years of asking if we could get a dog led up to this moment. 

After a little while of playing with my newly acquired puppy, I named him “Logan” based on the movie character, Wolverine, the superhero who has the sharp knives coming out of his fist, because my dog’s nails were sharp. I was beyond happy.

 Not only was the puppy mine, but it meant that my parents had come to believe I had changed, grown up. They believed I was mature enough to not only take care of and be responsible for a pet, but that I deserved him.

Logan isn’t exactly the kind of dog I thought I wanted. He’s a Husky just like the neighbor’s loud dog. He isn’t a small dog or quiet. He’s energetic and always ready for something to do. That’s exactly why I didn’t want a big dog. But that’s what makes him unique. He’s good for me. 

Over the years, we have done everything together. There is proof if you check out my Off the Leash profile, you can see a photo of me, my little brother, and Logan on a trail. Hiking has always been something I enjoyed, so I knew this energetic dog would also, but I would never forget to bring water for him on every hike we did.

Reno, a city in Nevada, is also very fun for him. My family loves to vacation there. Logan goes all out in the snow, he would drag me, and I couldn’t stop myself because it was slippery, falling, and sliding all over the place. 

He was like the Huskies you see on tv in Alaska sledding. In the snow he is in his element, but in San Rafael, with me, he is home.

Time passes, and on the first day of high school, he is here with me, lying down right next to me, as I get ready for school. I don’t fully understand what he wants. As I am leaving and grabbing my stuff, he puts his paw up onto my leg. I now understand why he was sitting next to me, he just wanted to be with me. 

During school, all I would think about was my dog, and when I would get home, he would be there waiting for me.

Logan has taught me so much about being responsible. 

When I had the hamster (forgive me, God), I was careless and forgot about him. But with Logan, I was different. Waking up early to feed him, taking him out on walks even when it was raining,and cleaning up after him no matter what. 

Slowly, I realised that caring for this dog wasn’t just a chore, it was something I wanted to do, the least I could do for my companion.

Logan is here for me when I am going through it, happy, sad, stressed, or doing nothing.

He doesn’t care if I have a bad day or if I didn’t get everything done I said I would do. He’s just there, always patient, always ready to play or to curl up with me and relax.

There are only a few people I know who are truly going to be there for me when I graduate and leave high school. Mom, Dad, Brothers, Aunt, and my dog. 

He will always be there, watching me with those big eyes of his, saying, “I will always be here.” And maybe that’s why I wanted a dog, just to have someone who will always be there for me.

Time goes by fast, but Logan has been there for the most important years of my life and more. 

He’s seen me change, grow, and little does he know he has taught me to be a better person. 

We all need someone who believes in us, even when we don’t believe in ourselves.