Animals have been a cherished part of my lived experience for as long as I can remember, as my family has always had at least 1 dog and 1 cat, and often more. As those animals grew older, I observed and learned from the ways the passage of time was made more gentle upon them, and of how the proactive steps and preventative measures were always the most effective, and least painful, not to mention the least expensive. Extending the time where they can be playful and engaged with the world around them is a truly precious thing. Currently, I live with 2 dogs and 2 cats, among other creatures, and do daily Physical Therapy exercises with the dogs before each walk.