Jamie Downey pictured with Cheyenne, Chester and Cassie
"I love my dogs! They are the best roommates and make great workout partners. I always have a four-legged kid to snuggle, hang out with, take on vacation - plus they are fabulous bodyguards! I love cooking for them and they never talk back, especially when I'm watching a movie; now, if only they could learn how to fix a cocktail!" ~ Jamie Downey
By Jamie Downey Photo by Heather Green
The majority of people adore children, although some adults prefer to do without the real kids and instead opt to become "dog parents" of kids who have fur. There are married couples who have made the well-thought-out decision to have dogs, not kids; married folks who want both; "empty nesters" whose children are all grown up and have left the roost, so now the dogs have become their substitute children; and an abundance of single guys and gals that just love dogs and want to have a best friend to hang out with!
With millions of homes overflowing with dogs, today's parents tend to recognize their beloved pets as family members, deserving of the same sort of services that parents would demand for their children. Dogs are family, and dog parents want to make sure their four-legged kids have a balanced and full life enriched with all the deserving amenities money can buy. Dogs are the new kids, and many dogs have a social calendar bursting with play dates, sleepovers, and outings to the dog park.
Dog parents have many of the same issues that human parents face with regard to deciding on where to locate the best education, training, doctors, health insurance, nutrition, hygiene, friends, and the right school, as well as determining which neighborhood has the most amenities for dogs. Being a parent is great - especially when you have kids with four legs!
