914.946.0848  .  contact  .  map & directions  .  subscribe  .  LinkedInFacebookTwitterGoogle+

An Homage to Max

March 29, 2016  | 

A departure from my other posts, and one that I hope will resonate with you.

Most people wanting to adopt a pet will typically look for a puppy or at least one under a year of age. But since we adopted Max, a miniature dachshund who was then between 10 and 12 years old, I consistently try to persuade anyone who is adopting a pet to consider adopting an older, or as they say in the world of pet adoption, a senior pet.

Admittedly, I was reluctant to adopt Max. But when we met him through his foster parent, I couldn’t resist and have never regretted it.

He was overweight, tentative, didn’t want to walk at all and was a little aggressive. We gave him glucosamine and took him for walks. We were careful with his diet, and until about 6 months ago, he was pretty spry for an old guy.
Within a few months of our adoption, we saw him lose his fear and aggression as he became more comfortable with us. He simultaneously became a lot more demanding but we didn’t mind because it was obvious that he appreciated us. He was my shadow, would follow me from room to room and would run, or his elderly version of a run, to go to bed with me at night.

Here is what I learned are benefits from adopting a senior pet:

  • No house training;
  • It’s is a very good thing to do, karma wise;
  • The rewards of helping a dog no one else may adopt cannot be matched;
  • You can have a major impact in terms of improving an older dog’s health and outlook;
  • Let’s be honest–puppies are cute, but they can be annoying. They are all id while an older dog is usually a much calmer dog.

We had Max for a very happy 8 years, and we were devastated to have to say goodbye to him. I wanted many more years with him, but the time that we had was definitely worth it.

My other dog is now 9, but he has as much energy and playfulness as he did when he was a puppy, and is also a lot less irritating. While he’s considered a senior dog, I wouldn’t hesitate to adopt a dog like him.

So, when we’re ready to adopt another dog, we will look for an older dog and I hope that I can inspire you to do the same. You can’t make up for any terrible times they had before you, but you can give them a loving, happy and more healthy end of life. Adopting one of them will be the best thing you can do, not just for the pet but for you as well.

Clare Piro Attorney and Mediator

Attorney & Mediator
500 Mamaroneck Avenue | Suite 320
Harrison, NY 10528
Tel: 914.946.0848

Email »

Comments
Search
Topics
Mediation (117) | Divorce (108) | Separation (25) | Divorce Mediation (19) | Mediator (13) | Litigation (11) | Communication (10) | Conflict (10) | Child Support (10) | Separation Agreement (9) | Consultation (7) | Co-Parenting (7) | Attorney (7) | Prenup (7) | Clare A. Piro (6) | Clare A. Piro Mediation (6) | Parenting (6) | Collaborative Divorce (6) | Assets (5) | Parenting Plan (5) | Children (5) | Marital Home (5) | Expenses (4) | Agreement (4) | Settlement (4) | Marital Assets (4) | Separate Property (4) | Family (4) | CSSA (4) | Equitable Distribution (4) | Finances (4) | Clients (3) | Joint Decisions (3) | Divorce Coach (3) | Prenuptial Agreement (3) | Listening (3) | Emotions (3) | Divorce Mediator (3) | Financial Professional (3) | Relationships (3) | Family Court (3) | Child Consultant (3) | Child Inclusive Mediation (3) | Marital Property (3) | Responsibility (3) | Estate Documents (3) | Divorce And Children (3) | Mediation Myths (3) | Informed Decisions (3) | Divorce Finances (3) | Child Support Standards Act (3) | Clare Piro (3) | Divorce Agreement (3) | Surviving Spouse (2) | Grace (2) | College Expenses (2) | Inheritance (2) | Apology (2) | Moving Forward (2) | Consulting Attorney (2) | Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) (2) | Step-Mother (2) | Step-Father (2) | Humanity (2) | Anger (2) | Bitterness (2) | Post-Divorce Income (2) | Law Professionals (2) | CDFA (2) | Mediate (2) | Separation Agreements (2) | Anxiety (2) | Calculating Support (2) | Blended Families (2) | Step-Children (2) | Joint Decision Making (2) | Spouse (2) | Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) (2) | Pandemic (2) | New York Child Support Statute (2) | Unrequited Love (2) | Collaborative Practice (2) | Attitude (2) | Truth (2) | Couples (2) | Custody (2) | Legislation (2) | Conflict During Mediation (2) | Settlement Agreements (2) | Seperation (2) | Budget (2) | Agreements (2) | Mediation Benefits (2) | Mediation Versus Litigation (2) | Estate (2) | Right Of Election (2) | Budgets (2) | Will (2) | Equal Parenting Plan (2) | Compromise (2) | Mediating Emails (1) | Feelings (1) | Intention (1) | New Year’s Resolutions (1) | Mediating Onine (1) | Religious Holidays (1) | COVID 19 (1) | Cultural Holidays (1) | Lack Of Focus (1) | Child Focused Mediation (1) | Communicating (1) | Family Mediations (1) | Remain Healthy (1) | Parental Holiday Sharing (1) | Thrive (1) | Tone Of Voice (1) | Facial Expression (1) | Joseph Goldstein (1) | New York’s Child Support And Maintenance (1) | Postnuptial Agreements (1) | Waiving Spousal Support (1) | Lack Of Communication (1) | Depression (1) | Holiday Season (1) | Languish (1) | Transition Day (1) | Caucus (1) | Mediating Virtually (1) | Child Support Payment (1) | Domestic Violence (1) | Primary Caretaker (1) | Custody Determination (1) | Child's Best Interests (1) | Separating (1) | NYs Child Support Guidelines (CSSA) (1) | Co-parenting (1) | Power Of Regret (1) | Non-Residential Parent (1) | A Neutral (1) | Children And Divorce (1) | An Advocate (1) | On-Duty Parent Responsibilities (1) | Retirement (1) | Guilt (1) | Parenting Schedules (1) | Technical Difficulties (1) | Anxious Thoughts (1) | Agreement To Mediate (1) | 50/50 Parenting Plan (1) | Unhappy Relationship (1) | Expectations (1) | Pathological Liar (1) | Heard (1) | Understood (1) | Older Parents (1) | 50/50 Parenting (1) | Tough Decisions (1) | Older Adults (1) | Eldercare (1) | Couples Counseling (1) | Elder Mediation (1) | Pension Plans (1) | Support Add-ons (1) | Pensions (1) | Being Heard (1) | Breast Cancer (1) | Ovarian Cancer (1) | Support Connection (1) | Cancer (1) | Successful Mediations (1) | Commitment (1) | Being Understood (1) | Divorce Needs (1) | Support (1) | Collaboration (1) | Decision Makers (1) | Cohabitation Agreement (1) | Cohabitating (1) | Unmarried (1) | Emotional Trauma (1) | File A Petition (1) | Parent Coordinator (PC) (1) | Hope (1) | Default Provisions (1) | Parent Coordinator (1) | Self Compassion (1) | Partial Buyout (1) | Buyout (1) | Inflation (1) | Children Of Divorce (1) | Interest Rates (1) | Real Estate (1) | Selling The Marital Home (1) | Self Reflection (1) | Postnup (1) | Meditation (1) | Fairness (1) | Separate Asset (1) | Marital Asset (1) | Consulting (1) | Parenting Agreement (1) | Divorce Terms (1) | Divorce Agreement Terms (1) | Final Decisions (1) | Contentment (1) | Retirement Plans (1) | Opposites (1) | ADR (1) | Presumptive ADR Program (1) | New York Family Court (1) | Family Court Presumptive ADR Program (1) | Parenting Styles (1) | Coparenting (1) | Perspective (1) | Personality (1) | Pension (1) | Separate Property Credit (1) | Advocacy (1) | Empowerment (1) | DecisionMaking (1) | CoParenting (1) | Family Occasions (1) | Honest Conversation (1) | Legal Rights (1) | Alternative Dispute Resolution (1) | Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) (1) | Happiness (1) | Beliefs (1) | AcceptableOutcome (1) | Mediation Process (1) | Matrimonial Practice (1) | Kindness (1) | Righteous Anger (1) | Disagreements (1) | Ideas (1) | Saving Grace By Kirsten Powers (1) | Actuarial Company (1) | Kirsten Powers (1) | Court (1) | Judge (1) | Pro-Rata (1) | Global Pandemic (1) | Bonuses (1) | Commissions (1) | Income Level (1) | Maggie O’Connor (1) | Fear Of Separation (1) | COVID19 (1) | Fall (1) | Parents (1) | Disclosure (1) | Moving On (1) | Unemployment (1) | Seperation Agreement (1) | Payments (1) | Extremes (1) | Conflicy (1) | College (1) | Acknowledgement (1) | Power (1) | School Year (1) | Kids (1) | Summer (1) | Marriage (1) | Resolution (1) | Scarcity (1) | Contribution (1) | Nesting (1) | Divorce Law (1) | Joint Legal Custody (1) | Financial Costs (1) | Lack Of Trust (1) | Accusations Of Delay (1) | Tentative Agreements (1) | Permanent Agreement (1) | Temporary Agreement (1) | Installment Agreements (1) | Negative Communication (1) | Compassion (1) | Divorce Papers (1) | Retirement Account (1) | Maritial Assets (1) | Maritial Property (1) | Transmutation (1) | Commingling (1) | Married Couples (1) | Hurricane Harvey (1) | Abundance (1) | Grandparents (1) | Settle Agreement (1) | Alone At The Holidays (1) | Relocation (1) | Specialist (1) | Mental Health (1) | Equity (1) | House (1) | Finding Love After Divorce (1) | Post-Divorce Dating (1) | Holidays Post-Divorce (1) | Difficult Clients (1) | Holiday Blues (1) | Scared Of Divorce (1) | Fear Of Divorce (1) | Halloween (1) | Moving On After Divorce (1) | Joint Physical Custody (1) | Parenting Post-Divorce (1) | Parenting Plans (1) | Change (1) | Self-determination (1) | Baby Boomers (1) | Self-talk (1) | Living Apart (1) | Living Together (1) | Effects On Family (1) | Older Dogs (1) | Adopt Shelter Dogs (1) | Dogs (1) | New York (1) | Advice (1) | Self Determination (1) | Blame (1) | 2015 (1) | Year In Review (1) | Mindfulness (1) | Equality (1) | Balance (1) | Control (1) | New York State (1) | Joint Account (1) | Settlement Term (1) | Court Order (1) | Mental Health Professional (1) | Needs Vs Wants (1) | Negotiation (1) | Entitlement (1) | Court Process (1) | Financial Documents (1) | Financial Information (1) | Family Law Software (1) | Lawyer (1) | Marital Concerns (1) | PostNup (1) | Post Nuptial (1) | Time To Process (1) | Patience (1) | Marriage Counseling (1) | Frame Of Mind (1) | Reluctant Spouse (1) | Telling Your Spouse (1) | Court Vs Mediation (1) | Asset Distribution (1) | Buyer (1) | Maintaining Calm (1) | Matrimonial Cases (1) | Custody Disputes (1) | Multiple Assets (1) | FinancialPortfolio (1) | Complicated Finances (1) | Mediation Misconceptions (1) | Social Distancing (1) | Coronavirus (1) | Attitudes Toward Prenups (1) | Meditate (1) | Property Distribution (1) | Equitable Distribution Statute (1) | Apologizing (1) | But (1) | Fiancé (1) | Prenuptial Agreement (Prenup) (1) | Collaborative Process (1) | Seller (1) | Cash Flow (1) | Life Insurance (1) | Bankruptcy (1) | Little White Lies (1) | Lies (1) | Public Trust (1) | Personal Relationships (1) | Settlement Agreement (1) | Married (1) | Affair (1) | Wife (1) | Spouses (1) | Husband (1) | Financial Situation (1) | Custodial Parent (1) | Intervention (1) | Dreaming (1) | Therapy (1) | Beneficiary (1) | Spousal Support (1) | Dishonest (1) | Work Stress (1) | Interest Payments (1) | Remarriage After Divorce (1) | Equity Loan (1) | Refinance (1) | Divorce Assets (1) | Emotional Attachment (1) | Dividing House Asset (1) | Ex-Spouse (1) | Accepting Responsibility (1) | Taking Responsibility (1) | Family Enrichment (1) | Holiday Preparations (1) | Attitudes (1) | Significant Other (1) | AttorneyPresence (1) | FamilyMediation (1) | MediationSession (1) | LawyerDivorceMediation (1) | Matrimonial Dispute (1) | Perfection (1) | Buyout Options (1) |
Connect
Close Announcement

Online Mediation Available

In response to COVID-19 I am providing family and divorce mediation services online. Click to learn more.