This past Fourth of July, when people everywhere were celebrating our country's independence by enjoying fireworks displays, I was not among them. Instead, I was home comforting a cowering little black chihuahua named Nike who was wrapped in his blanket and pressed close to me because he is terrified of loud noises.

It's all part of being a pet parent.

As pet parents, we love our dogs and cats and treat them like family members. The old belief that dogs should not be allowed on the furniture often does not apply to pet parents. In fact, not only are the dogs allowed to sit with us on the sofa, but they also sleep with us. In many cases, pet parents only get a small corner of the bed so that our cats or dogs can have room to spread out.

Sleeping dogs are great bed warmers, by the way. I love the cartoon that shows a husband and wife in bed with several pet dogs and the wife says, "Pass me a dog; I'm cold." Another favorite post of mine from Facebook features a man who says, "My girlfriend does not like my beagle, Molly, so I had to re-home her." And, by "her," he wasn't talking about Molly.

We also talk to our pets. When leaving the house, we not only tell them how long we will be gone, but we also tell them where we are going and our expectations. The reward is that when we get back, we are greeted with great exuberance and excitement.

Pet owners give their dogs and cats nicknames. Our Jack Russell terrier, Abby, answers to Abbs, Abeshola and Nubbin, a name that reflects her cropped tail. Because Abby is a bit chubby, she has some unflattering nicknames as well, including Pork Roll, given to her by our neighbor, and Sausage, given to her by the vet.

Working at home with two dogs can be a challenge because they choose the most inappropriate times to bark, such as when I'm conducting a phone interview. Perched by the window, they never let a squirrel go by unnoticed.

They also know how to tell time. They are at the ready to bark when the mailman comes, and they know the weekly trash pickup schedule. My neighbor gets home from work at 5 p.m., and soon afterward she walks her dog, Agnes. My dogs know the time of the day and are stationed at the window just in time, ready to bark. And with two dogs, who needs an alarm clock?

Yes, we deal with their flaws and shenanigans and the occasional accident, but dogs and cats are only here for us to love for a short time. When they pass on, it is very painful, but I have found that getting a new little fur baby to love helps ease that pain. There are so many dogs and cats out there searching for their forever families.

Pets don't need expensive toys to play with or designer outfits to wear. All they need is our love. They can't speak for themselves, so we must speak for them and protect them.

And this coming New Year's Eve, when our neighbors enjoy setting off fireworks at midnight, I will be awake not only to celebrate the start of a new year, but to comfort little Nike, who will be safely tucked in under his blanket pressed close to me in my small corner of the bed.