And so I kept running, and Brenin kept running with me; and we both got fitter, and leaner, and harder. This pragmatic impetus for my new-found fitness, however, quickly changed into something else. On our runs together, I realized something both humbling and profound: I was in the presence of a creature that was, in most important respects,

The love of my life was a dog.” An animal provided my first experience of unconditional love. An animal taught me the meaning of compassion.