Kyria and I are recent pet parents.
We have no kids. Probably won't at this stage.
Tucker (our Samoyed) is also our first ever "real" pet. (goldfish not withstanding)
he's only 16 months old and he is totally part of the family. He's with me on the 1 hour drive to work each morning, then 8 hours in the office then another 1 hour home. He loves to travel. Sometimes we swing by the dog park at Blacktown for a run on the way home.
For the last few months, I've been wondering how he will fit in the our longer term plans to hit the road for the big trip... not being able to visit national parks with him and so on.
But reading this thread... makes me realise that first and foremost... he's family. And Kyria and I couldn't imagine hitting the road without him.
It's also made me realise that one day... he'll leave us.