I have been around animals my whole life. When I was a kid we had lots of pets. I always enjoyed them, but it wasn't until later that I learned their real value to me. In my 20s I was unmarried, with no serious girlfriend, and living in an apartment right near my job. I was a young lawyer with enough money in my pocket to get myself in trouble. I had lots of fun with my buddies, drank way too much, and was staying up late most nights. I started having trouble getting up in time for work. I was losing focus and gradually spiraling downhill. It occurred to me that I needed to be responsible for someone or something other than myself. I decided I needed a pet. I started with a fish tank. That was easy. Just feed them and change the water occasionally. Then I got a dog. That changed everything. She was my responsibility. I had to walk her, feed her, train her, get home early from wherever I was, etc. Her schedule became my schedule. I'm not saying there's a direct connection, but my life got better. My relationships were more stable. I eventually met my wife. We started a family. We have kept many pets together. We're older now. Many people our age don't want pets because it's more difficult to travel. It's true, but we think it's worth the tradeoff.