My name is Burke Riley and I am from Charlotte, North Carolina, but I study at the University of Georgia. Growing up, I always wanted to get a dog, but my parents never really wanted to get one because they knew it would be a lot of work, and they didn't know if my sister and I would be able to take care of a puppy. My family has always been big UGA fans, so getting an English Bulldog felt necessary for me, but my parents weren't so sure.

One day in August of 2013, after years of convincing my parents, we adopted my dog Reuben. From that day on, he has been the best dog and my favorite one to see when I come home to visit. I enjoy taking him on walks down the street (because that is as far as he can go without getting tired,) playing fetch in the backyard, and watching movies with him on the couch. He isn't the most active dog, and he is fifteen pounds overweight, so most of the time he just lays on the couch or on my bed. Training him was important for me because it taught me how to take care of another person and learn how to be patient. Reuben has always been very stubborn and only listens to what he wants. As you can see in the picture he is crazy, but full of love. Overall, he is the best dog, and I am so glad my family adopted him. My love for dogs and other animals encouraged me to join the organization PAWS and regularly visit the animal shelter in Athens. I hope to one day have more dogs and have a family of my own to take care of them.