THE FAMILY DOG: My Life by Kathryn Hall

Inaugurating our new section about dogs and family life, hence the title, THE FAMILY DOG is our talented DDR photographer, Kathryn Hall’s story about how having 3 dogs doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing affair” when a new baby enters the picture.

In the beginning, there was my husband and I and our three dogs. Then, last summer, we had a baby. Pregnancy and having a baby bring out funny things in the people around us: funny behavior, funny comments. Before our son arrived, I was asked numerous times what we were going to do with our dogs. We have three extra-large dogs: a male shepherd and two female English mastiffs, whose combined weight is 400 lbs.


To date, I have rescued two dogs, bought two, and fostered/rescued approximately twenty more that are now in adoptive homes. I’m a little good and a little bad. Though I wouldn’t change a thing, I’ve spent several years trying to make up for what I consider to be the bad. My plans last summer revolved around getting ready to bring home baby. These plans included the introduction of baby to our dogs and how to do so safely. I ended up having unrelated surgery the day after giving birth, so by the time baby and I came home from the hospital, all planning went out the window.

There was no bringing home a soiled diaper or blanket that baby had been sleeping in for the dogs to smell, no introduction to baby after I had already walked in the door first. In my physically beaten state, the introduction became, “Dogs, meet baby. Baby, meet dogs. Got it? Good.” Somehow, everyone fell in line. I do not want to convey that combining animals and kids would be this easy for everyone. Chances are that it can be difficult, but it should be known that it’s not impossible.

One reason, I believe, people are loath to do so, is fear. During my son’s first few months, I often found that while I would let the dogs near him, I would also, before too long, interrupt and shoo them away. I started to wonder why I was doing this and realized I was afraid. Since there had never been any signs of aggression, one day I decided not to get involved. I was still physically right there, but when my shepherd came up to my son, I simply let it be.

That dog licked the baby from head to toe, and it probably went on for nearly a minute. My son was stunned but not upset. When it was all over, the baby seemed to gather his thoughts on what had transpired and proceeded to squeal with glee every time our shepherd was around. Goes on to this day.


It broke my heart every time someone asked me what I was going to do with my dogs. This clearly stated that these individuals believed it was ok to consider getting rid of them. This, to me, is the very heart of one of our society’s greatest problems: a lack of responsibility. There is a lack of responsibility to people, animals and our environment. It is tragic for any of these to be considered disposable.

I believe in marriage. And I believe in divorce. I’m under the assumption we get one go-around here and, to some extent, people should not be forced to live an unhappy existence because mistakes were made; people make mistakes. However, I do not believe that anyone should so heavily rely on knowing there is an easy out. Marriage is work, having a career is work, owning animals is work, and I can now fully attest to the fact that having a baby is a hell of a lot of work.

Simply put, my life would be easier without my dogs. But it also would not be nearly as full, as rich, or as lovely. I wouldn’t change a thing.

2017-05-24T08:44:35+00:00
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