Dog Mama Guilt

I’ve attempted to write this blog entry for a long time.

There are a million reasons why so much time has passed, but the biggest reason is that two and a half years ago, my world was turned upside down. On March 30, 2008, I welcomed Lincoln, my first two-legged child into my family.

I had never imagined the impact two little feet could have on my world. Hours previously spent cuddling on the floor with Jeter and Aardvark were now spent feeding, changing, cuddling and entertaining Link. By the time he went to bed, after working a full-time job and taking care of a baby, I was exhausted.

But, the reality is that what has really kept me from writing this entry has not been Lincoln, but the Dog-Mama guilt I’ve experienced since his birth. Before he was born, I recall specifically saying (and feeling!), “I just can’t imagine loving anyone more than I love these dogs”. Then…BAM! My world was rocked by the power of the love I felt for my first biological child. It was overwhelming and confusing. Like my love for our dogs, it was unconditional, but it was clear from the beginning that this love was just different.

The thing is, I had been a “dog person” and a “dog mama” for a very long time. The new addition of “biological mama” to my identity had thrown me for a loop. But…with time, I’ve realized that the short break from paying the dogs my undivided attention has been paid-back (and then some) as our son has grown into an independent, dog-loving toddler! He, like many children, is drawn to his older siblings. Now, at two and a half he throws the ball for them, feeds them dinner and loves to help take them outside. He hugs them, kisses them and shows little regard for dog hair or drool (thankfully!).

Earlier this summer, we ventured off on our first family vacation since Lincoln was born. We swam, canoed and enjoyed the sound of crickets and frogs lulling us to sleep. Link was thrilled to explore a new world with the dogs and every memory we created was a reminder that, although our life had changed, it was better and richer then ever before. We get to share our love for our dogs with our son!

The best mama-moments, however, come right before Link heads off to bed. Part of his bedtime routine includes the following one-sided conversation:

“Love you, Jeter. Love you Aardvark.”

“You guys are my best friends!”

“Protect us!”

“Get good rest!”

“Okay guys, love you! ‘Night!”

“Oh, sleep tight!”

Then, two tiny little toddler feet head off to bed and my heart soars.

Who is Hungry Dog Heaven?

Beyond all else, we are “dog people”! Pictures of our dogs adorn our desks at work. Stories of our dogs often make their way into conversation, usually when our friends and family are sharing tales of their own biological children.

We adjust our lives, our homes and our schedules to care for our four-legged family members. We wipe drool from their jowls and concede to the fact that we may never have “dog-hair-free” clothes. We vacuum more than the average family (although still not as often as we could).

We value the warmth and love dogs bring to our lives. We laugh at the way they wag their tails and lick their chops. We take pictures of them sleeping. We are in awe of their beauty and their character. Loyal. Humorous. Perceptive. Courageous.

We take our relationships with dogs seriously and consider them parts of the family. We care for them and respect them. We could not imagine our lives, our world, without dogs.

For all of these reasons, Hungry Dog Heaven strives to create a world where dogs, and their needs, are paramount. Simply stated, we create healthy homemade treats for dogs. Each treat is made from human-quality ingredients, baked from the same products found in the grocery store. If the quality of an ingredient isn’t good enough for us, it isn’t a part of our product.

Hungry Dog Heaven goes beyond caring for the individual dog and hopes to contribute to a community of conscientious canine parents dedicated to enhancing the health and lives of all dogs. By donating a portion of each purchase to local animal rescue organizations, we hope to help all dogs find the love and comfort of the life they deserve – a dog’s life.

“If there are no dogs in heaven, when I die I want to go where they went.”
– Wil Rogers