I am touring trough different cities to promote the release of The Tippy Story. As the author of the book, I am traveling with my dog. During my recent travels, I used a rolling cart to transport my dog as I wheeled her through the airport.

Fellow travelers, airport security and employees smiled and approached us. People who were waiting for flights initiated conversations with me about their pets at home that they missed. I wondered, was a dog being wheeled around in an airport an amusing site? Or was it just a charming image that brings people together?

During a long wait for my plane, I realized part of the answer to my question. Everyone just wanted to be near the dog. My dog reminds other people of their dogs at home. All the people I met had one thing in common: a dog as a member of the family.

For me, as for those who sat near me at the airport that day, my dog is a part of my everyday life. The people who came to sit with us came because it was like being at home for them. My dog, for a moment, gave them a little reminder of home.

Our dogs are not longer just our “pets”; they are now members of our family and are taking a much more significant place in our lives.