Chris Pine loves being a dog dad!
In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the 44-year-old actor and director talked about his love for his pets: two rescue dogs and two other dogs he fosters.
Pine says, highlighting some of her favorite things about owning a dog, such as the “morning cuddles.” “It’s the countless little things throughout the day that make me smile as my dog does silly things.”
“The love you have for animals is deep and heart-opening, and I can’t help but think that the habit of that heart-opening over time is ingrained into your life elsewhere. ” he continues.
“I think it makes me love more. My dogs have taught me a lot,” Pine added. He recently published his first children’s book, When I Met Diggs the Dog and Zulu the Squirrel: Short Stories About Short Stories. Tail.
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Chris Pine promotes his new book in New York City in October 2024.
Stewart/Getty in New York
According to Pine, he first became a pet owner at an early age, growing up with his father, fellow actor Robert Pine, and mother, Gwynne Guilford.
“When I was seven years old, my parents took me to a dog adoption program, so I adopted Lucy,” he explains. “She was a small dog and I had her from the time she was 7 years old until she was in her 20s.”
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Pine said he was heartbroken after Lucy’s death. “I was studying abroad that year and I remember my parents calling me and telling me that their dog had died and they were shocked,” he explains.
“Then I spent 15 years without a dog. I traveled a lot, worked, started a career, and then Wednesday, I truly believe that dogs have given me love, patience, and love. It’s no exaggeration to say that he taught me everything about kindness,” Pine continues about the rescued pup. “She changed my life.”
Chris Pine in March 2024.
Rick Kahn/Getty Images
Pine told PEOPLE that she wonders why she hasn’t had a furry friend in her life for more than a decade now. “I thought, ‘Why did I waste so much time?'” he says.
And although she has stated that she is not a parent, the “Don’t Worry Darling” star said fostering a pet prepared her if she chose to take on the role.
“There’s a lot of mutual learning in some ways,” he explains. “It’s like having to teach a dog how to live in the house, how to potty train, and what a dog can and can’t do.”
“You’re also learning about patience,” Pine continues. “If they tear up the couch, how do you deal with that? And how do you treat them with kindness instead of anger?”
When Digz the Dog Met Zurl the Squirrel: A Short Tale About a Short Tail is available for purchase now wherever books are sold.
