When did you get your first pet?

In my memory, the experience of adopting my first pet is like yesterday. It not only opened up a deep emotional bond between me and animals, but also shaped my understanding of responsibility in life. Now I have 15 years of experience in adopting pets, but this is a past that I miss. Whenever I mention it, it always makes people feel warm and want to share it with the world.
Many years ago, on one of my birthdays, my parents agreed to my request to adopt a small animal.
I remember walking into our local animal shelter one winter morning. That day, what came in the cold wind was not only the rustling of leaves, but also the expectant looks of the animals. In those eyes, I read expectation, hope, and even loss. I’m looking for a new partner, and these animals are looking for a new beginning.

Among the many animals, a gray and white kitten caught my attention. It sat quietly in the corner of the cage, with a calm look at the world in its eyes. She wasn’t scrambling for attention like other kittens, but her calmness silently touched my heart. When I approached it gently, its gentle eyes seemed to say: “You are finally here.”