Do we choose our pets, or do they really choose us?

However dogs and cats end up with their particular people, there's a kind of magic that happens as the bond between animal and human strengthens and grows.

Sometimes, a pooch or feline friend can even change the direction of a person's life or give new perspective on life itself.

Here are some stories from readers about their beloved pets.

Pretty as a picture

It was the summer of 1976, and my late wife, Ellen, and I were walking home after Saturday morning brunch in New York City. At an ASPCA mobile adoption vehicle, we encountered Becky. After falling in love at first sight with this almond eyed sheltie mix, my life was changed forever. We adopted her, which led to dog-training classes and calls to the ASPCA help line (Becky was barking while we were at work, and we feared eviction). At training, the instructor referred us to her agent. At the audition, the agent said, "If you can teach her to bark on command, I can get you work." I taught Becky to bark on command in an hour using bits of turkey. She went on to appear in many advertisements, and the beauty of this all is that Becky inspired me to become a trained volunteer at the ASPCA, learn dog training and start Tender Loving Pet Care, a pet-sitting service. This dog changed my life for the better and forever. Thank you God, and thank you Becky. Sadly, Becky passed on in December 2001.

-- Federico Guillermo, Cadyville

Bear in the backseat

We were in desperate need of a new pup. We needed a wagging tail to welcome us home. A litter was offered -- mother, a Lab; father a golden or a Newfoundland. It had to be the newf, because Bear grew up to fill the entire backseat of the car, a loving, eager-to-please, gentle giant. My husband became hospitalized, and I made my daily trips from Tupper Lake to Saranac Lake. It was hunting season. The roads were tricky -- icy at times. I took my sleeping bag, an extra battery, jumper cables and, of course, Bear. On one return trip, a man flagged me down. I assumed that he had come out of the woods and his car was up the road. I stopped. What had I done? He smelled of dirty, sweaty clothes. He winked at me and said, "There ain't many women who give a guy a ride."

Help! I turned to him and said, "I do not have to worry -- see this dog?" Bear wagged his tail. "He is trained to go right for the throat on command," I said. My passenger visibly shrank and left my car right at the end of town. No, I have not repeated this foolish act and learned my lesson with the help of Bear.

-- Ingebord Sapp, Plattsburgh

Precious Pomeranian

We were visiting our daughter, whose husband was stationed at Camp Pendleton, last winter, when we observed a couple with a little Pomeranian trailing behind. The dog was lost, and they were trying to find the owner. We agreed to keep the handsome little guy until we found the owner. After a few days of frantically searching, we discovered that the little Pom was abandoned, and we happily adopted him. Symba is unique. Unlike most Pomeranians, he only barks when he is really excited, for example, when anticipating a ride or a walk. He loves people and is very tolerant of other animals. We were visiting a cousin of my wife recently. She had just lost her husband, and some of her friends and relatives were over to try to comfort her. Symba would sit in front of one person and then move down the line to the next one, almost as though he were introducing himself. He really lifted everyone's spirits.

-- Paul Rascoe, Chazy

Irresistible Isis