Celebrate 'Adopt a Dog' month by doing just that

I never thought I would be a dog person.

Growing up, my mother was afflicted with devastating allergies that prevented us from having pets. As a teenager, I liked other people's animals, but was more confused by them than anything else. (Why is your cat always hiding under the bed? Why does your dog bark at the ketchup bottle?)

Then I got my first dog.

It's amazing how animals can change our lives. Not only medically - though pet ownership is shown to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels - but emotionally as well. Owning a cat or dog is shown to reduce feelings of lonelin...