The best of friends: Kids and their pets

Monica and Tito

16-year-old Monica has owned Tito, a five pound toy Maltese, for five years. "Tito and I have a great relationship," Monica says. "Ever since the day I got him, he's slept with me in my bed and he even has his own pillow. He loves to have my company and I love to have his company. Every time I come home, he will always be there to give me some puppy kisses!" When Tito needs something, he knows to bypass the rest of the family and go straight to Monica. "I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world!" she says.

Penny and Sheldon

Kelly, who blogs at Temerity Jane, has two big dogs who adore her infant daughter. "Sheldon is a Newfoundland/Goldendoodle mix and he's two and a half," Kelly says. "He likes anything that Penny hands down over the baby gate or from her high chair. Pizza rolls, carrots, nuggets, entire sandwiches, whatever." Both dogs have been gentle with Penny from the start, cuddling up next to her or serving as giant dog-shaped pillows.

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Allie, Sam and Sunny

"Sunny's been around long before my daughters, but I think she started living when they came around," says blogger Jonna Rubin, who writes at Jonniker.com. Sunny is a 7-year-old Pug. "From the beginning, they were her babies, and she puts up with everything from tail pulling to hugs. Kissing my older daughter good night is part of Sunny's bedroom routine. And in the morning? Snuggles." Alllie, the newest addition to the Rubin household, has already been welcomed with plenty of kisses from Sunny.

Briar, Avery, Finley and Beso

Amanda Magee and her husband built a playground for their three daughters and their 2-year-old dog, Beso. The girls spend hours outside with Beso, who plays around the slide and swings like he’s one of the kids. "Beso gives chase beneath the swings, miraculously never getting steamrolled," Magee says. "Their dad puts Beso up on the platforms and he runs full speed to the slide and races down. When he isn't sliding or running laps, he waits for the girls at the base of the slide. His favorite thing is to rest between the slide and the swings and watch the girls."

Ellie and Max

"Max has been unfailingly patient and loving with Ellie since pretty much the day we brought her home, in spite of repeated gropings and grabbings," says Lauren Anderson of her infant daughter and 9-year-old cat. "The feeling seems to be mutual — her first word was 'Daisy' and her second was 'kitty.'"

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Eriana and Rubeus

Despite being a little wary of 18-month-old Eriana, 3-year-old Boxer/Shepherd mix Rubeus gently endures her affections. "Eriana loves to hug, kiss and chase Rubeus around, much to his chagrin," says mom Tara D’Angelo. "He is very patient and tolerant, even when she comes to try to pet him as soon as he gets comfortable in a new place, or when she tries to feed him dog food one piece at a time instead of letting him just eat. He loves to give her kisses first thing in the morning, and she greets him with a hearty 'Hi Zoozoos' when she sees him."