The Baby

I will not analyze this dream right now, but for the sake of remembering it will recount it.

In the play that I just finished with, as art director, there was a puppet. This puppet was a grandmother puppet.

In the dream, I was walking down the sidewalk. This woman, who was wearing a black bonnet, and looked like this grandmother puppet, in terms of presence and dress, was pushing a stroller. She had tried to leave that stroller there, and take another empty stroller that she had planted behind me, so that when I turned around to see her (as she struck me as strange) I would see her going off with what looked like the same stroller. When I turned back around, she had left the previous stroller there with a baby in it. Naturally, I freaked out. The baby was extremely small. It was the size of my hand. I picked it up, and didn't know what to do with it, but I knew I had to protect it. I was searching for something, and it was raining and cold. I knew I needed to find shelter and clothing for it. Then, I ran into this man, who was unlike anyone I know in real life. I trusted him to take care of the baby, well I didn't really trust him, but for some reason I let him take it anyway. He mistreated it A LOT. He treated it like an animal that could fend for itself. He put it down at one point in this construction area that was made of wood, and the baby got splinters and started bleeding.

The baby, though harm was inflicted upon it, never flinched, or acted as though it was in pain. Ultimately, I was able to get away from the man and call the police. When 911 finally came, the baby turned into a kitten. I still cared for it, but not as much. It was as if the baby's humanity had been destroyed, and because it was treated like an animal, it was too late when help came, it had turned into an animal. The EMTs still tried to help it anyway, when they offered it help, it turned into a vicious dog/rodent type thing and would not let anyone near it. I was very sad for it, for it had started off as a little human baby and ultimately became a lost cause.

Addition:

Let us recount the archetypal imagery in this dream.

According to dreammoods.com:

Baby Carriage
"To see a baby carriage in your dream, symbolizes your desire for a family or longing for a baby. If the baby carriage is empty, then it indicates sadness or an unfulfilled goal. Alternatively, it suggests that you need to cater to the needs of your own inner child."

This is applicable to the dream in the sense that what was taken away was an empty carriage, by part of a successful project I had reached all my goals in. This emptiness or fear of not accomplishing things was taken way, and in its place was left a child, however small. I believe that this child represents myself in the sense that it was new, and very small. It was something that was born in me upon the accomplishment of my goals.

Baby
"To see a baby in your dream, signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings. Babies symbolize something in your own inner nature that is pure, vulnerable, helpless and/or uncorrupted. If you find a baby in your dream, then it suggests that you have acknowledged your hidden potential. If you dream that you forgot you had a baby, then it suggests that you are trying hide your own vulnerabilities; You do not want to let others know of your weaknesses. Alternatively, forgetting about a baby, represents an aspect of yourself that you have abandoned or put aside due to life's changing circumstances. The dream may serve as a reminder that it is time for you to pick up that old interest, hobby, or project again.

To dream of an extremely small baby, symbolizes your helplessness and your fears of letting others become aware of your vulnerabilities and incompetence. You may be afraid to ask for help and as a result tend to take matters into your own hands."

This symbol applies in the sense that it represents my fear of my own potential and my fear of failure. Applicable to the project I had just finished, among other things, I feel that it represents the fact that I did have to take on many things myself, and needed help, but nobody could help me in the capacity that I had needed. This is not to say I did not have help, but I took on too much work for one person to handle.

Cat
To see a cat in your dream, symbolizes an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power. It also represents misfortune and bad luck. The dream symbol has different significance depending on whether you are a cat lover or not. The cat could indicate that someone is being deceitful or treacherous toward you. If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself. If you are afraid of the cat in your dream, then it suggests that you are fearful of the feminine. The dream may be a metaphor for "cattiness" or someone who is "catty" and malicious. If you see a cat with no tail, then it signifies a loss of independence and lack of autonomy.

Kitten
"To see a white kitten in your dream, signifies deceit and trouble.
To see non-white or soiled kittens, indicates trouble ahead for you."

In retrospect, I do believe that this means situations I since have gotten myself into, when my intuition told me to take a different path. Which ironically brings us to:

Dog
"If the dog is vicious and/or growling, then it indicates some inner conflict within yourself. It may also indicate betrayal and untrustworthiness. If the dog is dead or dying, then it means a loss of a good friend or a deterioration of your instincts. Also consider common notions associated with the word dog, such as loyalty ("man's best friend") and to be "treated like a dog"."

Overall, considering such obvious archetypes applicable to my every day life, I believe that the dog is a culmination of all of these symbols, in a sense, the end of things representing that ever symbol prior was a factor that I needed to take serious heed of.