Shelly-Ann Thompson, Outlook Writer

Lady Saw, Marion Hall, tries to get the attention of her dogs. Her favourite pet, Paris, is behind her. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

INTERNATIONAL DANCEHALL artiste Lady Saw, born Marion Hall, has a love affair with dogs.

The deejay currently has nine dogs at her upper St. Andrew home and two others at her home in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. There are another two dogs in Portmore, St. Catherine, where she also owns a home.

The nine in St. Andrew represents a decrease from the 13 she owned up to late last year. Among the breed are German shepherds, rottweilers, one cocker spaniel, a Belgian shepherd and three pit bulls.

Anywhere Lady Saw goes and sees a dog she will begin a relationship.

Lady Saw has come into possession of her dogs through different means, including buying, gifts from friends and from her boyfriend, Lloyd James. He is in the process of locating a poodle and Shih-tzu for her ­ dogs which are small enough to travel around with.

Her Belgian shepherd was obtained in exchange for a poodle with entertainer Tristan Palmer who wanted the poodle for his daughter.

Her favourite among the brood is called Paris.

"My boyfriend keeps telling me to cut her ears, as they hang to the ground. But, I can't do that. I am not into hurting them and I think cutting her ears will hurt her," Saw told Outlook.

The dogs reside at her home in well kept concrete kennel. While Outlook waited for the DJ, the team walked out on to her balcony and saw the artiste with a wet mop in hand cleaning out the kennel. The dogs were eating turned cornmeal.

"I grew up with a lot of dogs," Saw explains, adding that her father loved them.

She lists their ability to follow human beings as the animal's best quality.

"I remember, as a child, no matter where my father went, his dogs would follow him. They followed him on the road and all the way back home. Dogs are companions, never leaving you out."

She also has memorable experiences with her pets.

"I used to have two dobermans, them did love to drink Guinness. If them see a bottle they ready to drink. They were fun, but unfortunately they died." She also once had a poodle named Luxury that had an addiction to Kentucky Fried Chicken and who would bark whenever the DJ drove pass one of the fast food outlets with her.

Whenever she is home in Jamaica, her pets come in for a lot of loving attention.