I’ve been an avid pet lover my whole life. Growing up, my dad was always bringing pets into the house– birds, dogs, a goat, you name it. The pet that I was always closest with was Gingi, an adorable orange tabby my sister gave me for my 10th birthday. Gingi was by my side when I went through middle and high school, when I left home for college, and when I got my first apartment as a young adult. We grew up together.