Jennifer Lawrence has opened up about a difficult change in her home life that came after becoming a parent. The actor, known for being candid and quick-witted, revealed that she no longer lives with her longtime chihuahua, Princess Pippi Longstocking. While the decision surprised many fans, she framed it as something that grew out of new fears and a shift in priorities once children entered the picture.
Lawrence and her husband, art gallery director Cooke Maroney, became parents for the first time in 2022 when they welcomed their son Cy. Their family grew again toward the end of 2024 with the arrival of a second baby boy. Long before her relationship with Maroney, Lawrence adopted Pippi and built her routines around the dog. Even now, she insists the chihuahua is still part of the family, just in a different household, living with her parents.
The topic came up while Lawrence was promoting her new psychological drama Die My Love, in which she stars alongside Robert Pattinson. During a conversation with the audience on January 7, she connected her real-life experience to a moment in the film involving a new mother and an unexpected dog in the home. She also shared a small detail that painted a picture of how devoted she once was, saying Pippi did not like New York, and that she even tried living near a park for the dog’s comfort. But motherhood changed the emotional math, and she said that after having a child, dogs started to feel frightening in a way she did not recognize before.
She described the jolt of panic she now feels when her child approaches a dog, as if her instincts immediately shift into protection mode. Lawrence said a key turning point was when a dog bit her son, an incident that intensified her anxiety. In her trademark dark humor, she admitted she had an explosive reaction in the moment, the kind that sounds outrageous but also signals how visceral fear can be when a child gets hurt. The takeaway was clear, even beneath the joke, as she no longer feels relaxed around dogs the way she once did.
Despite the change, Lawrence made it clear she still loves animals and currently shares her home with a cat named Fred. She spoke warmly about cats, leaning into the idea that their prickly personalities can be part of their charm. She has also been open about the emotional weight of parenting more generally. In a previous Variety conversation with Viola Davis, she described the constant loop of second-guessing that can make even ordinary moments feel like a test.
Have you ever had to make a tough pet decision after a major life change? Share your thoughts in the comments.
