The Sentinel

For 2024: New Year's resolutions you should make with your pet

by Kim Salerno
TripsWithPets

WAKE FOREST - As we leap into a new year, pet parents across the U.S. are setting their sights on pawsome resolutions to ensure their furry companions lead happy, healthy, and tail-wagging lives.

TripsWithPets.com surveyed dedicated pet moms and dads to discover their top resolutions for 2024, and the results are in! From health and wellness check-ups to socialization adventures, here's a glimpse into what the pet-loving community has in store for their four-legged family members.

1. Health and Wellness Check-ups (22%)
The leading resolution for 22% of respondents is prioritizing their furry companions' health. Regular veterinary check-ups, a balanced diet, and tailored exercise routines top the list. It's a resounding commitment to ensuring their pets live their best, healthiest lives.

2. Socialization Adventures (20%)
Coming in close behind, at 20%, is the resolution to embark on socialization adventures. Dog parents in particular are recognizing the importance of positive interactions with other pups and humans. From group walks or hikes to meet-ups with other dogs and their people, these adventures are geared toward fostering a sense of community for both dogs and their devoted owners.

3. Plan a Pet-Friendly Road Trip/Explore New Destinations (19%)
Pet-friendly road trips and exploring new destinations secured the third spot, with 19% of respondents eager to hit the open road with their four-legged co-pilots. From charming countryside retreats to beachfront getaways, pet parents are seeking out new experiences that cater to their furry friends.

4. Bonding and Quality Time (16%)
In the fourth position, 16% of respondents are resolved to deepen the bond with their furry family members through dedicated quality time.

Pets

Whether it's trying out new activities together, creating a cozy corner at home, or simply enjoying some quiet cuddles, pet parents are making a conscious effort to strengthen their connection with their pets.

5. Mental Stimulation and Enrichment (9%)
Recognizing the importance of mental well-being, 9% of respondents are focusing on mental stimulation and enrichment for their pets. New toys, puzzles, and interactive activities are on the agenda, ensuring their pets stay mentally sharp and engaged in the coming year.

Honorable Mentions: While the top five resolutions took center stage, other noteworthy resolutions mentioned by the respondents include:

Grooming & Hygiene: A commitment to regular grooming routines, including brushing, bathing, and overall hygiene.

Obedience Training: A dedication to reinforcing basic commands and behaviors, fostering a harmonious relationship between pet and owner.

Update Safety Measures: An emphasis on safety measures, including checking microchips, updating ID tags, installing in-home cameras, and ensuring outdoor spaces are secure.

As we embark on this pawsome journey into 2024, it's heartening to see the unwavering dedication of pet parents to the well-being and happiness of their beloved fur babies. Each resolution is a testament to the strong bond and commitment shared between humans and their furry companions.

Here's to a year filled with wagging tails, wet noses, and endless adventures with our four-legged family members!

Kim Salerno is CEO/Founder for TripsWithPets, Inc. TripsWithPets is a leader in the pet travel industry – providing online reservations at pet-friendly hotels across the United States and Canada.

Some things to keep in mind when you need a law firm

StatePoint Media - Let’s face it, no person or business gets a thrill out of hiring a law firm. Fortunately, peer-reviewed rankings have simplified the process.

Best Lawyers, which has been tracking trends and innovations in the legal industry for more than four decades, serves as a trusted resource for identifying what it takes to be a preeminent law firm in the United States. Their recently released 14th annual rankings of Best Law Firms, found at bestlawfirms.com, provides keen insight, not only into the most successful law firms, but also the key factors to keep an eye out for when going through the reliably trying task of retaining counsel.

Here is some of Best Lawyers’ advice:

1. Does the firm use the latest technology?

Right now, even the legal profession is abuzz about generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) tools. With its ability to parse information more quickly, gen AI offers the immediate potential to automate routine tasks such as research; summarizing long, complex content; and writing first drafts of simple documents such as NDAs. All of which can save both time and money.

And smart firms are closely watching regulations and any risks that this new technology may bring, all while using it for the benefit of the firm and its clients.

2. What do other legal experts think about the way they do business?

There are better options available than just word of mouth when choosing legal representation. After all, hiring a law firm isn’t like choosing which novel to download next. Through Best Laywers’ research process, a firm’s performance is assessed by its peers, ultimately helping consumers make better-informed decisions.

Why is this important? At its heart, a robust peer-review process like Best Lawyers’ asks legal professionals to answer this key question: “If you had a legal issue and could not represent yourself, what firm would you hire?” This peer-review method is critical, and offers a straightforward way to help identify the most trusted firms.

3. Does the law firm embrace diversity?

Today’s leading law firms know that to be successful, the makeup of their staff should represent the communities they serve. Inclusion is a necessary element of well-rounded representation because a team with different backgrounds and experiences will bring diverse points of view to solving clients’ unique and complex challenges.

Fortunately, in recent years there has been an uptick in law firm diversity. In 2023, 21.6% of attorneys were members of traditionally underrepresented ethnic groups, according to an American Lawyer survey. That’s up more than 20% from the same survey just three years prior.

As a consumer, consider asking a law firm about its diversity track record. In fact, the best law firms will not only expect the question but welcome it.

Guest Commentary | Will you face 2024 with fear or fearlessness?

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. The cost of groceries, fast food, building materials, and most anything you can name has increased dramatically.

Millions of Americans are Social Security recipients. The modest increase coming in January will feel like a drop in the bucket. Every little bit helps and it will truly be a little bit compared to the financial needs of senior adult Americans.

Almost every day we see the national reports of the thousands of undocumented immigrants flooding our country, This does not make us feel very secure. Our government could stop this but they don’t. We have the ability to stop this insane invasion of America but for some reason our leaders obviously want the masses to keep coming. This is fearful. How will these people survive in America? Where will they live? Are there jobs for all these people? Is this really fair and helping them when so many of them will have to sleep on the streets of our major cities? I don’t see how. Will this invasion become the eventual end of the America we have enjoyed, without a shot being fired?

Politics is not comforting to most Americans. Who can we trust? Is anybody telling the truth? Are all politicians liars and thieves? Do they all have nasty baggage in the closet? Are there any real leaders that we can respect and admire without having to look down or look away when we mention their names? Yes, there are those we believe in but none of them are perfect and most are far from perfect. Of course, no one is perfect. This is nerve wracking for Americans, especially in such a crucial election year.

We are constantly bombarded with pleas for support. Currently it’s Ukraine. Ukraine obviously needs help. It’s difficult for us to fathom billions of dollars for Ukraine when we won’t secure our own borders and protect our own citizens. How does this make sense?

Interest rates may come down in 2024 but will they come down enough? A seven percent rate on a $40,000 car is a tough payment for many Americans. The housing market is struggling. Who can afford a $350,000 house along with a seven or eight percent loan? Obviously not many as home sales are badly slumping right now.

There is a lot to scare us in this world. Cancer, diabetes, neurological diseases, and more. When we do get sick there is the price tag that comes with waging a medical war to survive. So often, people postpone going to the doctor because they don’t want to see the medial bills and this ends up being a very unhealthy and often deadly decision. The whole scenario is fearful.

However, life is not to be lived in fear. Fear freezes us, paralyzes us, and overcomes us. We seldom move forward when frozen by fear. My hope for all of us is that we might overcome fear in our lives and dethrone the beast from ruling over us in 2024. My hope for you is that you might have the power of God in your life in such a way, that his presence will be greater in you than all the fears we are facing in the world. May you have this power in you in such a way that you will face this next year with strength and fearlessness.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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