My mother had a collie named Lad before I was born, and when we got transfered to Europe, Lad couldn't go, they didnt think he would make it thur the trip, he went to live on my aunts farm, He was old. 10yrs He was 13yr when he passed. While in Europe my mother got us a st. poodle he was 4yr Someone tranfering back to the states and didn't want to pay for him to travel we had him till he was 15yr and he flew back to the states with us. Chi-chi a chihuahua and Tinker a mini poodle came to live with us when i was twelve, Midnight the st poodle just loved them Tinker passed at 18yrs and Chi-chi lived to be 21yr. I lost her the day after my mothers funeral. Dogs have always been in my life and always will. I dont think I could come home to a empty house. Dogs and yes even cats add life to house they make it a HOME and any other pet that someone might choose.