Diane Keaton/Star Power

February column No. 1

By Kyra Kirkwood

Oct. 11, 2004

She's starred with Woody Allen, Jack Nicholson, Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn. She's won an Academy Award and two Golden Globes. She's an accomplished director and producer.

But notable actress Diane Keaton says she learned one of life's biggest lessons from her dogs, especially her firstãa strong-willed shepherd mix named Josie.

"For me, having Josie taught me the joys of being in an intimate relationship with an animal and it also led me to think maybe I could actually be a mother," says Keaton, her daughter Dexter, 8, by her side. "I had a responsibility which I never had before. I had been a single person with no ties to anybody, and I got really used to that. Josie was that first step that led me to decide to become a mother. [I learned] the joys of affection. I loved her so much."

Keaton is now the mother of Dexter as well as Duke, three and a half. Her love of dogs, and of all animals, is passed on to her son and daughter by example. Since 2001, Keaton, who was nominated at last year's Academy Awards for her role in "Something's Gotta Give," has been the celebrity spokesperson for the Helen Woodward Animal Center's international "Home 4 the Holidays" pet adoption campaign.

"I knew this would be the most effective organization I could be associated with in the animal world," she says of the Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.-based center. "I hope, in some way, my name will garner more attention, save more lives and teach people more about how to take care of a dog before they actually buy or adopt on impulse."

In addition, this hands-on mom is teaching her children to respect and care for animals, as well as save their lives. On a recent trip to a no-kill shelter in Laguna Beach, Calif., the Keatons spent time with Harley, an older Golden retriever they were thinking of adopting. Already, Keaton has two rescues: an older, mild-tempered black Newfoundland ("I named her Sweetie," chimed in Dexter) and a Basset hound/shepherd mix called Red, due to the red string/collar around his neck when Keaton found him abandoned on a Texas movie set nearly eight years ago.

"Dexter loves her Red boy," laughed Keaton as her daughter retold the story of how the dog came to be a family member.

Searching a shelter for the next Keaton was a no-brainer.

"It touches your heart more; you feel like you've done a service," she says. "You're literally saving a life."

This animal advocate encourages people to spay or neuter their pets, as well as thoroughly consider their lives, habits and weaknesses before opening heart and home to a dog.

"Think about who you are, what you can stand and what you don't like," Keaton says. "And there's always an animal to fit. There is. But if you just do it on impulse based on the fact that they're cute, or you're attracted to that look, you're a fool. It's just like any kind of relationship. Why go for looks? It's always a mistake."

Patience and being child-tolerant are key dog characteristics for Keaton because her canines are such a big part of her family life. As her daughter talks about Josie, Red and Sweetie as if they were her best friends from school, Keaton adds, "I think the fact that you have pets in your house is really important for kids becauseäit [teaches] them affection and respect."