This post is sponsored by Swiffer, all opinions are my own. 

Did you know that May is National Pet Month? Boy, oh boy...has it ever been a month! Our home has always been full of pets - cats, dogs, rabbits, lizards, snakes...we even had a prairie dog as a pet at one point! The last few months were pretty exciting in the Quillen home: we adopted a rescue dog named Kilo in October, after our sweet little Kyrie passed away last May. It was a bit impulsive to take him in, as I had gotten used to only having our 2 Shelties, Bailey and Toby, for quite a while. But how could I say no to Kilo's sweet little face? He needed a home and Angeline and I just couldn't say no. In honor of National Pet Month, I want to share 3 Reasons Why We Love Our Pets! 

Angeline moved out late last year and adopted a new dog, Swish...and when she decided to move back home in March, of course Swish came along with her. It was QUITE the adjustment...not only did we now have 3 cats and 4 dogs - but the newest addition was very, very large. He was also just a puppy, not even 5 months old yet, and I hadn't had a puppy in the house in almost a decade. 

However, having pets - as long as you have a house that is big enough to hold them, and a backyard big enough for them to run around and play in - is such a rewarding experience. Our pets become a part of our family, especially for people like me, who are single and don't have little kiddos running around. There are so many reasons to embrace the joys of pet ownership...

3 Reasons Why We Love Our Pets! 

Our Pets Give Us Unconditional Love!

Have you ever had a really bad day, and felt that you just had no one to turn to? I think we all experience the ups and downs of life, and as they say that dogs are man's best friend, you'll always have a warm, cuddling pal ready to lick your cheek and cheer you up even on the worst of days!

Pets Have Distinct Personalities, Just Like People!

Each of our cats and dogs have totally different personalities. Bailey is old and grumpy, Toby is sweet and cheerful, Kilo is super hyper and friendly to EVERYONE, and Swish is rambunctious and loving. It's just like having a bunch of little furry people running around the house, and they somehow - for the most part - all get along!

Pets Make a House a Home. 

I got divorced a few years ago, and Angeline literally just moved back out of the house - on the spur of the moment for a new job she recently acquired - and yet...I still feel like I have a full house. It's been a few days and I don't quite feel lonely yet. I think it's because the house is still lively and full...of fur babies! Even if you have children, what do they always ask for? A PET! There is just something about having a pet at home that makes it really feel complete. 

Celebrate Your Love for Your Pets - For a Good Cause!

In celebration of your awesome pet, share a photo for a great cause! Submit a photo showing how much you love your pet to this Today Show Parenting Team Challenge. For every submission through May 30, Swiffer will be donating $5 to the North Shore Animal League of America to help even more furry friends find their forever home. Click here to share your photo: http://bit.ly/SwifferPetPhotoTRC.

Now, I know that having pets can seem like a lot of work, what with the spills, accidents, shedding...and yes, it can be! However, it doesn't have to be! With the help of Swiffer products, we've been able to keep the house tidy and clean, even with 3 cats and 4 dogs in the house recently!

Don't Sweat Your Pet!

Swiffer offers easy-to-use sweeping, mopping, and dusting cleaning tools for virtually every household surface. They’re quick and easy to use, and help you not sweat your pet - so that your family can spend less time worrying about the mess and more time playing with the pets! You can get a wide assortment of Swiffer products at Target!

My favorite products are the Swiffer Sweeper with Sweeper Dry and Wet Pet Refills with Febreze Odor Defense that Trap + Lock Swiffer and Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Pet Refills!

Swiffer Sweeper: A 2-in-1 hard surface sweeping and mopping tool. The dry cloth has deep ridges and grooves that conform to the surface of your floor to trap and lock dirt, dust, and hair, while the wet cloth dissolves dirt and grime and traps it away giving you an amazing clean.

Swiffer Dusters: With Dust Lock Adhesive™ and 50% more fibers than regular dusters, this amazing all-around design cleans deep into grooves to trap and lock up to 3X more dust than a feather duster.

 Happy National Pet Month!

Don't forget to submit a photo showing how much you love your pet to this Today Show Parenting Team Challenge. For every submission through May 30, Swiffer will be donating $5 to the North Shore Animal League of America to help even more furry friends find their forever home. You can find the photo challenge here: http://bit.ly/SwifferPetPhotoTRC

Check out your local Target for all of the great Swiffer products that will help you to not Sweat Your Pet!