What animals have made a difference in your life?

My beautiful black cat, Salem. I adopted her from a vet's office six or seven years ago. At the time, we already had one cat and my mom wasn't keen on the idea of getting another one. Salem was a titchy little thing, only five weeks old, and she and her brother had been left at a vet's office. After my aunt adopted the male, we took him to my Mom's work and I begged her to let me get his sister.

I begged and begged, even cried, because I was so smitten with that tiny little kitten. My mom finally relented and the next day, I went back to the vet's office. I made a small donation and they let me take Salem home.

As a kitten, she used to curl up on my pillow at night when I went to bed, buried in my hair and purring into my ear. She decided several months later that she wanted to be in the big outside world. She's gone "missing" a couple of times, lost outside, but she's always managed to find her way back home. A little bit ornery and persnickity at times, she is still "mi pantera preciosa" and I love her more than anything.

She'll get into a mood sometimes where she wants to just snuggle up to me and be held, she'll creep under my blankets and sleep by my side at night occasionally. She's very vocal about her needs, "miaowing" loudly when she wants something, and everyone in the house (even my uncle, who is NOT a cat fan) loves her to pieces.

My Salem is my little joy in my life.