The only thing that matches the joy of having a pet is the joy of having a child. Still, it's a different kind of joy. I've had my dog for a year and a half and coming to Doha without him wasn't even an option. My dog can be a pain--especially when he chews my baby's bottle nipples and pacifiers, or when he wants to play with our socks--but he makes me laugh all the time. This morning when I opened the patio door, he charged outside, only to be bounced back by the screen door that wasn't quite open. The befuddled look on his face was priceless! Our dog sleeps with us and sometimes we'll wake up with him sleeping on his back,with all four paws in the air. So cute!