Taking Care of a Pet Not the Same As Taking Care of a Child

I am a proud dog mom to two dogs; Dora and Diego. My husband and I raised them each from puppyhood after adopting them at a shelter. I am also proud human mom to my son Oliver.

Raising them all has been very different in their own unique way and surprisingly they do share some similarities. Obviously though, taking care of a pet is NOT the same as caring for a baby.

Same:

They both poop.

Different:

With the dogs I can just open the door to the backyard and all is well. With the baby I actually have to wipe his butt, add some cream, and put on a diaper. I do this at least eight times a day. I’ll have to do that for a few years. The dogs were trained within a few months. Also, I don’t recall ever having a major blow out on an airplane with the dogs. I’m talking the kind that gets all over clothes forcing you to change into your spouse’s shirt while trying to wrestle down and change the baby in a teeny tiny airplane stall while there is turbulence. Yup that never happened with dogs.

Same:

They both go through a teething phase

Different:

The dogs chewed everything. I’m talking carpet, wall, remotes, DVDs; basically anything within reach. They also swallowed a lot of questionable items. Then, about a month in, I’d randomly find little baby teeth on the floor and that was the end of that. When the baby is teething he becomes a living, breathing monster. I’m talking sign of the apocalypse. There’s drool (so much drool) but also slight fever, congestion and screaming in pain at random times in the night sometimes every hour. No sleep is had. This can go on for MONTHS. What’s worst is it’s not really over until the kid is at least 3 years old.

Same:

They both make a lot of noise.

Different:

The dogs bark (okay my son has started barking too) or growl and sometimes whimper but that’s about it. If I get annoyed at their loud noises all I have to do is open the backyard door and off they run to annoy the neighbors. Can’t do that with a baby. Nope. I have to listen to his high pitched random screaming and hope it doesn’t happen in church (but know that it will). The baby also has a lot of cute noises that the dogs will never have; laughing, babbling, blowing raspberries, and the heart stopping “mama” which melts me every time.

Same:

They are both loved completely and unquestionably.

Different:

I would literally die for my baby. I wouldn’t for my dog and I have no shame in admitting that. If they are both drowning at the same time in the same place, obviously I try to save them both, but I’m reaching for my kid first. If my kid needed a kidney, or liver, or some bone marrow I would head to the nearest hospital and tell them to take it all. My dogs? Not so much. Don’t get me wrong, they get regular vet check ups and I’d do anything to help prolong their life, but when their time comes that’s it. It will be sad but also inevitable and I’m probably not going to go to crazy lengths to keep them alive. Yes they are precious to me and I do my best to protect them, but at the end of the day they are dogs. My child is MY CHILD and ten times more important to me.

No matter how much you love your pet, it will truly never compare with the love you would have for your own child. Pets are wonderful and can really change your life for the better. They love unconditionally and are always happy to see you. Tiny humans are similar but much more complicated. Things you would go through with a pet are heightened ten-fold with a baby. Either way they are both gifts to be cherished.

Now go out and take some cute baby/pet pictures!

Veronica DeSantos Ryan
Hi Austin mamas! I am Veronica DeSantos Ryan, a mama from Round Rock. My husband and I moved to the area in 2014 and love every minute of it. Our baby Oliver (May 2016) is the light of our life and we are enjoying every minute with him. After spending seven years teaching, I decided that I wanted to be a stay at home mom and teacher of life to my little boy. As a family we love running with Ollie in his jogger stroller, having picnics outside, playing with our two dogs and exploring all the the Austin area has to offer! I am also a performing princess for Lexi's Little Princesses Princess company, a teaching artist at The Georgetown Palace Theatre, and a member of the singing group The Vintage Dreams. I am an avid reader, piano player, singer, and occasional actress in community theater, and have recently been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles and More.

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