I’m due in September with our first child and I know that having a child will be like nothing I have ever experienced before. I know that one can never be fully prepared for the changes that happen in your life after having a baby.  However, although I get laughed at when I say this sometimes, I do believe that owning a dog has prepared me for having a baby in a lot of ways, and I am hopeful that it has been somewhat of a stepping stone toward raising my first baby.  Let’s start with the basics.  We can never go away without first figuring out who will watch the dog and making sure that he will be well-cared for.  Not to mention that the grandparents are usually our first choice for this.  We need to make sure he is fed on schedule and that his eating patterns remain normal.  We clean up after him when he goes to the bathroom. And of course, we take him to the doctor when he doesn’t feel well.  At a higher level, owning a pet trains you to be selfless in a way that you have to be when you have a baby.  We wake up early to walk him.  We adjust our schedule often to minimize his anxiety.  We make sure financially that we can take care of all of his needs.  And most importantly, we do everything for him that he can’t do on his own and make his happiness a high priority.  He is a dog, but he is certainly our baby in a lot of ways.  He has taught us so much about taking care of another living thing and has been the ultimate example of providing unconditional love.  I have no doubt that the experience of taking care of my dog has prepared me (even if only a little bit) for life as a parent.

- Hali Katz