My Professional Life in Dog Years.

For almost as long as I have practiced, a white dog has worked alongside. Clients and colleagues have been aware of this partnership for decades and, for the most part, appear pleased by the warmth, humor and distraction only a happy dog engenders.

At this time of year, I wistfully recall all the dogs who have enriched my life—-from my childhood to the present. Let me also introduce my latest civil partner, Declan.

In my first job as a lawyer, I waited until I became partner before bringing [sneaking, perhaps?] a wicker dog bed and a puppy occupant — Seamus—into my small office. This action was essential coping mechanism for me, and likely the puppy! My first position proved exceedingly challenging, combining litigation as a field of practice and misogyny as the prevailing office culture. With a dog, I “had” to escape the pressure of the four walls and telephone every hour or two, if just to walk around the block with my companion. These jaunts provided an opportunity to calm down, think of new ways to analyze an issue and cooled a head prone to migraine. When stress peaked, all I had to do was syncopate my breathing and mindset with that of the dog napping at my feet. Unprompted by me, my friend instinctively barked when insurance adjusters appeared in the office. If a client was nervous or upset, Seamus joined us in the conference room.

Thankfully, I left that job and worked for myself for several years, still with Seamus. His passing presaged a move to another firm and a new colleague, Paddy. The new firm was not conveniently located for an office dog, so I introduced the concept of “hybrid” working long before the pandemic. Life was better working within earshot of Paddy’s chewing and snoring. Liam fell into and filled Paddy’s big and happy paws, making me all the more determined to make my work life balance “tipped” in favor of a dog. Thus, when my former firm dissolved in 2018, I delighted in the opportunity to have 24/7 with my reliable associate and confidante.

From Liam the legal chew toy has been passed to a new puppy named Declan. He is only 5 months old now, so I must schedule my work projects around his potty breaks and zoomies. “Declan” means “full of goodness” in Irish. Whether that is descriptive or ironic for my latest 4-legged partner remains to be seen. Either way, I am grateful for the perspective he brings into my work and personal pursuits.

Where I live [Boulder], local law declares that humans are “guardians” and not “owners” of dogs. I would not argue with this viewpoint, except to say that it is too limited. In my life, dogs have always been my guardian, softening the harsh and prickly ways of the law and heart.