Story 1:
My father passed away, but when I was 12, my mum remarried. I had a good relationship with my stepfather, but I often thought that he was too tough, like a biker-rocker with principles. At 16, I fell in love, my mum was hysterical and forbade it, I threatened to run away.

But my stepdad said, “Go out with him on the condition that you take my dog with you.”
He had a pit bull who was kind and didn’t guard at all. But the guy got scared and flipped out when we were alone at my house. I was really offended then. And now I am married to a great man and I realize that both stepfather and the dog kept me safe from douchebags. © Overheard — They’re talking about you here / VK

Story 2:
I had just got dumped by my long-term girlfriend and was crying on my bed alone in my room. My tiny little dog saw me cry for the first time and grabbed all of her toys and put them in a pile at my feet to try and get me to take them and play with them, so I felt better. She’s lovely! © Silvenx / Reddit

Story 3:
My parents had a dog named Charlie who was absolutely terrified of the vacuum cleaner. But after I was born, any time my mother vacuumed, Charlie would stand steadfast between me and the vacuum cleaner. “Trembling in every limb,” my mother says, but determined to protect baby-me from the monster. © SBooth / Quora