Golden Retriever Life’s Kevin and Katie Bubolz Announce Second Baby With Help From Therapy Dogs Ellie and Emma
Kevin and Katie Bubolz, the couple behind the massively popular Golden Retriever Life social media account, announced they are expecting their second child. The announcement, shared on Instagram on Sunday, Feb. 22, featured their trained therapy dogs Ellie and Emma front and center — because of course it did.
“Our family is growing 💛Connor is getting promoted to big brother!” they captioned the post. ” Shoutout to Ellie and Emma for being such intuitive, loving therapy dogs and taking such good care of Katie.”
The photos tell the story better than any caption could. The post included a family photo with the dogs, a shot of Katie lying in blankets as both Ellie and Emma snuggle up close to her, and a picture of the couple holding a sonogram photo.
The Bubolz family welcomed their first child, a boy named Connor, in October 2024. Now Connor is getting promoted to big brother, with Ellie and Emma along for every step of this new chapter.
Trained Therapy Dogs With an Instinct for Comfort
For longtime followers of Golden Retriever Life, photos of Ellie and Emma curled up protectively around Katie are no surprise. These two golden retrievers are trained therapy dogs, and their ability to sense what their humans need is what has drawn millions of followers to the account.
Kevin and Katie have always been open about the fact that Ellie and Emma are therapy dogs on a mission to spread smiles and make every day golden. Seeing them snuggled up with Katie during her pregnancy shows that intuitive, loving nature in action with their own family.
The shoutout Kevin and Katie gave to Ellie and Emma in the announcement caption says a lot about the role these dogs fill. They are genuinely intuitive, loving companions who take care of their people, and that bond comes through in every photo the family shares.
How Golden Retriever Life Began
The origin story behind the account matches the warmth of the content itself.
According to Golden Retriever Life’s official website, Kevin was inspired by the benefit of animal-assisted interactions while he was deployed overseas. When he returned home, he and his wife got Ellie and trained her as a therapy dog.
Kevin and Katie then spent several years volunteering in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, advancing the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of others through their work with Ellie. It was quiet, community-focused work that changed lives.
The pandemic shifted everything. As things became less in-person and more online, Kevin and Katie created their social media page to continue spreading that same joy through a new medium. The account went viral, amassing a massive following of people drawn to Ellie’s golden glow. The attention landed them on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, cementing Golden Retriever Life as one of the most beloved pet accounts on the internet.
In 2022, the family grew when they adopted another golden retriever, Emma. Two golden retrievers, double the love.
What sets Golden Retriever Life apart from other pet accounts is the mission behind the content.
Since growing their platform, Kevin and Katie launched their own app, The Hapco, described as a community of pet parents who want to unleash more adventures with their pups. The Hapco offers a way for followers to connect with other like-minded pet lovers and make the most of life with their four-legged companions.
The Bubolz family has also traveled the world with their pups, visiting deployed service members and fans all around the globe. That connects back to where it all started: Kevin’s time overseas and his realization of how powerful the bond between humans and animals can be.
As their official website states: “Our focus is, and will always be, on our mission to spread smiles.”
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
