I have to put in a positive word about dog ownership.
Through the machinations of an uncle who thought of himself as a shadchan for people and animals, we got a dog when I was 14 years old. To my surprise, she changed the course of my life, from one that was headed to bitterness and anger, to a kinder gentler life, mostly due to what I learned from her, and the behavior she encouraged in me. Without her, my life would have taken a much different course.
She showed gratitude, generosity, kindness, loyalty, enthusiasm, friendship and affection to me, and rewarded the same attributes in me, paying more attention to my learning these than any human could. She was an excellent listener. I’m not sure I would have gotten through my teenage years without her.