I have always been an animal person. Growing up, my family had at least one cat and a dog. In fact, in his elder years and to my mother’s dismay, my father has taken to caring for stray cats on the back porch. I am not there, yet.
We got Gigi when I was about three months into my first year as an associate. Before the pandemic, having a dog in corporate law would have been difficult because for the most part, junior associates were expected to be in the office. Working remotely and having a domestic partner in law school lightened the load of raising a puppy. That being said, we were completely unprepared for what Hurricane Gigi brought to our studio apartment. On her third day with us, we discovered Gigi had a parasite and was unable to leave the apartment for six weeks until she was fully vaccinated. She also had a ton of energy and wanted to sniff/chew everything. Throwing a tennis ball in the hallway on our floor was not cutting it. Despite the mayhem, we would not have changed a thing. At our eighth anniversary dinner last night, my boyfriend and I agreed that she was the best (slightly impulsive) decision we ever made.
So, what should you expect if you get a dog as an associate? Being able to work remotely during the pandemic is huge. If your firm expects you to be in the office five days a week, you might want to hold off until you have more freedom to dictate your schedule unless you can rely on a partner or family member. You could also utilize doggy day care, but with law school loans, this would have been prohibitively expensive for me.
In terms of daily responsibilities, we take Gigi for four fifteen-minute walks a day. She also goes to the dog park six times per week but she is admittedly spoiled in this respect; she could go three times and be fine. Keep in mind that I have a Frenchie. Gigi can be a ball of energy for short bursts but highly values her leisure. Most of the day, she is curled up next to us or asleep. A larger dog requires significantly more exercise.
As for the vet, we spent about $1,200 the first year on her normal expenses (initial vaccinations, first check-up, nine-month check-up and the annual check-up). We had one emergency that cost us an additional $900, so keep that in mind as well. On food, we spend about $60/a month. Gigi is spoiled on this front too because we feed her human grade food, so there is some wiggle room on this expense. We buy Gigi the occasional toy but with loving grandparents, new ones frequently appear in the mail. Getting a dog is expensive up front but barring any emergencies, having Gigi not a huge strain on our finances, even with my boyfriend still in law school. However, it is always best to be prepared and understand what you (and your wallet) are getting into when bringing a furry companion into your life.
How has getting a dog helped to ease the normal lawyer related stressors? The most general and least satisfying answer is that we love her. She is goofy and a shameless cuddler. Gigi spies on me in the shower because she hates being alone. She is the beta to our ten-pound cat, waiting patiently while Ava takes her share of the dog food before turning back to the cat food. Gigi’s loving and good nature makes it difficult not to smile. She also forces us to leave the apartment at least four times a day. During her walks, I try my best to leave my phone behind. Walking the pup allows me to be present and momentarily escape the chaos of corporate law, providing needed perspective. Finally, as I have mentioned in earlier posts, it is essential that you have something you enjoy in your life outside of work. Practicing law will make you feel overwhelmed and some days, incompetent. Gigi has protected my ability to understand that while my job is a big part of my life, it is not the only thing I excel at. This sentiment is important for the days when being a lawyer is kicking your butt. Remember, your dog would hire you any day.
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