My father introduced me to my very first puppy when I was barely three years old. It was a German Shepherd and at 45 days, it looked like a fur ball. Jackie, as we named him, went on to become my best friend, playmate and a family member over the next 12 years — not a single childhood memory doesn’t involve him. Back then, I was too small to walk or train such a big dog but after his demise due to old age, I began fostering puppies that were hurt or abandoned on the streets and giving them for adoption once they were healthy. This taught me a lot about the spirit of a dog, how to train them to obey different commands, grooming, nourishment and more. At the age of 18, I began walking my neighbour’s dogs for pocket money and have been doing so until now. I have progressed a step further and train for at least eight hours every day with dogs because I want to be an animal behaviour expert. Part of my job includes obedience training for people and dogs so that they can walk without the animal tugging on the leash or barking at others on the street. The biggest perk of my job is earning the affection of a faithful and loyal companion and forging a lifelong bond. Despite the low to moderate income, what keeps me going is that I feel like I connect with every animal I handle. The money isn’t great, but I feel rich because of all the licks and kisses I get from these pooches. My love for dogs honestly knows no bounds.