Thanks to Mary Neilson for the post

When I moved to Seattle, I found an apartment that had a Home security alarm system already installed. I chose the apartment because I thought it would be safer to live in and I wanted to get a pet. My apartment community allowed a pet or two with a deposit, so I put the pet deposit down prior to getting my new dog.

I went to the animal shelter a few months after I settled in and chose a black lab that was two years old. It cost me some money to get him, but he was well worth it. His name was Shadow when I got him, so I kept it the same.

He is a very good natured dog and doesn't bark when I am away from the apartment. I am able to be gone for work and have a girl at the apartment complex come and walk him for a small fee. He barks when people are outside my door or windows, so I feel safer with him than I did without.

He is a very protective animal but nice enough that he doesn't scare those that aren't trying to harm us. He enjoys long walks and keeps me company. I usually take him to the dog park around the corner to play with the other dogs before I go to bed. I now have a companion and a good guard dog that makes me feel secure at night.