A man's best friend teaches writer about China

My love for dogs goes as far back as my first memory. As a little girl, I collected and displayed a collection of dog figurines. At 5 years old, I was ready and willing to run away with the family dog after the threat of giving him away when he chewed up the sofa. Luckily he stayed - as did I - and my affection for man's best friend continued.

As an adult, my reasons for wanting to adopt a dog were purely selfish. I wanted a companion. I wanted a young, energetic dog that would need long walks or runs to help keep me active and motivated to stick to an exercise routine. I wanted something furry to come home to.

Little did I know that my four-legged friend and love for dogs would help me feel more at home in and fall in love with my Shanghai community.