16 Years Later: 11 Kids and Their Dogs and Cats, Then and Now

10/28/2026

16 Years Later: 11 Kids and Their Dogs and Cats, Then and Now

We never had a dog, because of my mom’s night shifts, but the family across the street had a beagle born the same spring as their youngest. For ten years the two of them went everywhere together, including the snow tunnel we dug when I was 10. These 11 kids grew up side by side with a dog or a cat, and the then-and-now photos say the rest.

A Boy and His Cat Ralf in the Same Spot, 20 Years Apart

“My cat Ralf and me in the same place, 20 years later. She was a bit grumpy during the photo shoot”

I just really wanted a cat named Ralf

If you had told me, 20 years ago, that Id be still inside with my Ralf... 🎵🎶

The Same Cat Next to the First Baby, Then Next to the Second One 12 Years Later

“Same cat, second baby ten years later”

It’s actually 12 years instead of 10, the first one was 2 in the top photo lol 🙈. It’s been a blast tbh!

It’s been an adjustment to say the least lmao. I couldn’t have done two close in age without losing my mind.

A 6-Year-Old and a Puppy Who Grew Up Together, Then 10 Years Later

“This is me and my dog, exactly 10 years apart. we both grew up together <3”

6, I am now 16, and he was 10 yesterday!

It’s my grandparents house

From the author:

The beagle across the street gave himself one job. Every school morning he walked their youngest to the corner, sat down at the curb and stayed there until the bus turned left. At 3:40 he was back at the same spot. My mom, home from her night shift and still in her coat, used him as a clock. When the beagle got up, she went to bed.

Same Boy, Same Dog, Same Couch, 16 Years Apart

“Same boy, same dog, same couch... 16 years apart.”

It’s trick photography. My mom made sure to have me block off the bad spots with my body in the recent one haha

The couch is definitely older than when we took the original pic. My parents got it in 1992

A Boy and His Black-and-White Cat on the Same Bed, 2009 and 2021

“A picture of my cat and me 12 years apart.”

A Girl and Her Golden Retriever, Asleep Side by Side Then and Now

“Then vs Now: My Dog & I Growing Up Together 🐶❤️”

A Girl and Her Cat Fritz, 20 Years Apart

“My girlfriend and her Fritz 20 years apart!”

He even does some tricks!

From the author:
Every first day of school, that family took the same photo on their front steps: the youngest with a backpack, the beagle in a red bandana. We could see it from our kitchen window. The last one I remember had a duffel bag for college instead of a backpack, and the beagle had a gray muzzle. He was sitting on the same step.

A Golden Puppy Who Kept Climbing Into the Baby’s Infant Seat

“Just found these in my album memories. My good boy and my daughter are both 2 now; but when I’d wake up some mornings, I’d find him snuggled in her infant seat and I just had to share the cuteness 🥺❤️”

He’s still the biggest baby ever

they both equally drive me nuts but at least they’re cute

A Dog Who Investigated Two Newborn Brothers, Two Years Apart

“2 years ago I made a post about my 5 day old son making noises, and our dog Lucy going to investigate. Two years later, we have another 5 day old son, and yet another detective. 💙”

He already loves to help as you can see, even though help sometimes includes poking him in the face.

A Girl and Her Granny’s Cat PT, 16 Years Apart

“My granny’s cat and I, 16 years apart!”

Pic on the right taken ~2005 and the one on the right was the last time I visited in 2021. He’s still alive and kicking! His name is Princeton or PT for short.

A Dog Who Was There for Graduation, a Wedding and a First Baby

“11 years later...”

Recreated our first pictures together on my girl’s 11th Gotcha Day Anniversary (with my daughter joining us). I’ve had her by my side for college graduation, moving, back to school, marriage and my first kid.

My parents front yard! She was a college graduation gift so we lived with my parents for a bit before I went back to school and we moved out again

She’s still alive and kicking....and getting the zoomies like she’s a puppy again

The last dog was a college graduation gift, and eleven years later she has a toddler in the picture with her. Kids grow up in the photos, the dogs and cats go gray in them, and the couch, somehow, never changes.

Did you grow up with a dog or a cat, and what’s your favorite photo of the two of you? Tell us in the comments.