As a child, I recall my dad and uncle being avid small game hunters—predominantly pheasant, quail, and rabbit. I know… yuck! The fact that they were “avid” did not actually mean they were any good at it. It is like when they decided to start making their own wine: They made it but, nine out of ten times, it was only good enough to be mixed with ginger ale or 7UP.

Hunting small game required hunting dogs such as Beagles and German Shorthaired Pointers that can sniff and track the game, sometimes for miles. They always had three or four of these dogs at the house, however, they were not pets. They were for hunting only. Petting and playing with them was never allowed. You could not get attached to them like you would with a pet, the concern being it would impact their senses and ability to hunt.

In hindsight, this actually was not such a bad thing because one day my dad and uncle went hunting and returned without the dogs, who had met their unfortunate demise chasing a rabbit across a busy road. I know you do not see the levity. It was very sad. I think that was the last time they ever went hunting. The incident crushed them emotionally for a long time. While their children had not grown attached to the dogs, they had.

Well, let us just fast-forward half a century: I went more than 50 years without ever having a true pet in the house. When my children were little, we avoided having pets other than the occasional gerbil, hamster, or fish because building a law practice and taking care of the kids was a large enough challenge.

Then one day my daughter and sonin-law decided they would like to have a dog. They went to a local shelter and found a handsome Black Labrador puppy whom they named “Jax.” After a couple of years, and following an unfortunate incident with my granddaughter, my wife and I are now the proud owners of Jax.

Having never had a pet, I did not realize that I would grow so attached to Jax and how much time was needed to take care of Jax.

As a man ages, proper grooming is a daily task. While hair no longer grows on my head, it manages to sprout in other places like a wild weed. Same with a dog. He needs grooming, long walks (he loves sniffing everything!), bathing, trimming, etc. Jax requires as much attention as a small child. And similar to a child, Jax also has his likes and dislikes, which he makes known by growls, barks, tail wags, and jumping up and down.

Additionally, Jax has a refined palette. While he will eat some of his Kibble, he prefers roasted chicken and London Broil.

One other thing I have learned about having a dog is that you just cannot let them poop on everyone’s lawn. You have to pick up their Number Twos and properly dispose of them or deal with the wrath of your neighbors. I also had no clue that monthly grooming was more expensive than having my hair done. Let us not even talk about the cost of a vet.

In conclusion, Jax is worth every penny and every minute of my time. His loyalty and love know no bounds. I can see how a dog is man’s best friend, as Jax is certainly one of mine. However, having my wife as his primary caregiver makes my life a lot easier.

Anthony J. Enea, Esq., is the managing attorney of Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP of White Plains, New York. He focuses his practice on Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law. Anthony is the Past Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and is the past Chair of the 50+ Section of the NYSBA. He is a Past President and Founding member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Anthony is also a Past President of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and a Past President of the Westchester County Bar Association. He is also fluent in Italian. He can be reached at (914) 948-1500 or at a.enea@esslawfirm.com

Please note that any opinions expressed in the articles contained herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not constitute positions taken by the WCBA.