PACT (Pre/Post Adoption Consulting and Training)

04/04/2026

Happy Easter/Happy Spring

04/03/2026

04/02/2026

Eight years ago:

Dublin was born on February 25,2005.
He was a first-cross Labradoodle,
and was expected to be 50-60 lbs.
He was purchased to be not only my buddy,
but a therapy dog at my clinic (Center For Family Connections).
He went to special training at Stonehill Kennels,
He went to daycare at Crate Escape,
where he had many friends and fans.
He ended up at 109 lbs.
Some of the kids and staff at the clinic were frightened by his size, so he came to work ‘by appointment only’,
and with me on weekends.
Dublin was a big softie.
He hated being alone, and required
that Nicoise (Seacia’s 9 lb Yorkiepoo) or Maizey the carazy Devon Rex, had to stay with him if his humans were out.
He needed another animal in his crate with him as well.
He went to his ‘school’ and ‘camp’ at Crate Escape
until he was about 10.
Then, my clinic was closed, I could run home a couple of times a day from my new nearby office, and so he ‘retired’.
In the last year, his arthritis started flaring up in worse ways.
He wouldn’t go up or down certain stairs.
He seemed to get spaced out - possibly little strokes,
and he developed a laryngospasm that
made it harder to breath when excited.
And Dubby was always excited!
We treated these things with various meds.
Dr. Adam Parker was his lifelong vet.
And this last week, when he couldn’t get up from a lying position and when he would just lie down in the cold back yard because he couldn’t breathe.
And he couldn’t climb the stairs.
And had a worse time catching his breath,
we decided that his comfort and quality of life
was more important than our need to keep him alive.
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Dublin.
It is with great privilege that we had him in our family for over 13 years.
We Love you, sweet Dubbie.

04/01/2026

Rabbit. rabbit.

04/01/2026

To all of my Jewish friends

03/31/2026

"Your children do not belong to you. But they belong with you. You cannot keep them from what is theirs. But you can keep loving them. You do not own your children. But they are your own." Joyce Maguire Pavao

Read wisdom from Joyce and 170 other contributors (adoptees, adopters, adoption professionals and birth parents) in the free book for adoptive parents at www.thrivingadoptees.com

03/30/2026

Join me on 3/31 at 6:00 EST.
With my 55+ years as an adoption competent therapist, who founded
Three therapy clinics and 2 training centers. We usually start with a comment or two, and then open up for any and all comments or questions about the long and complex journey after reunion.

Join us!!
Contact NAAP to sign up on Eventbrite