Page 12 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - July '22

Page 12, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
The Pet Cottage Celebrates 10th Anniversary

With Fundraising Celebration where you can literally become a part of our foundation by Residency Program and The Lifelong Guardianship
To Launch “Furever Promise” purchasing a 4- by 8-inch brick and engrave and customize Program – we promise our pets will always have the
home, care, and love they deserve – for life.
it to honor your favorite people and pets.”
Building Campaign The dozens of party attendees were treated to chicken Our promise means that pets come first and we do
salad croissant sandwiches and desserts included everything we can to provide the highest quality care
Wendy Derhak began her unique journey to create The cupcakes and swirly lollipops, but everyone seemed to for our pets – including veterinary care, medications,
Pet Cottage by taking in three cats – Smokey, Jeremy agree the highlight of the day was the “green walk,” where behavioral training, and of course, love and care in the
and Shadow – that her friend Joan left to her when she pets paraded with a volunteer on the grass in front of all comfort of a home with a dedicated guardian.
became terminally ill with cancer. Since then, Wendy the guests. There was also a silent auction which featured For more information about The Pet Cottage and their
has made it her mission to give “furever homes” to pets a Sundeck four-hour boat ride for seven, a professional Furever Promise, please visit their website: https://www.
whose owners either passed away, were disabled or left headshot, and goodie baskets filled with doggie thepetcottage.org/.
for military deployment. When she began, though, she delights and helped raise in excess of $1,000. Wendy To learn more about all the ways you can donate to
had no idea where the path would lead. But, since that acknowledged, “This is just the beginning,” and much help The Pet Cottage’s mission, please visit
time – 10 years ago – the word about The Pet Cottage more is needed to help The Pet Cottage purchase their https://www.thepetcottage.org/donatenow.
has spread. building and the land. Wendy said, “We
A couple of weeks ago, Wendy and The Pet Cottage have more events and announcements
hosted a fundraising party at their facility in Jupiter Farms. planned. Stay tuned!”
Not only were they marking their 10-year anniversary but, The Pet Cottage Facts
Wendy said, “We were kicking off Phase I of our building * Between The Pet Cottage Sanctuary,
campaign – to secure this as our forever home.” And they in Jupiter Farms, Fla., and The Lifelong
announced what Wendy called their “Pathway to Forever – Guardianship Program, they are caring
for approximately 50 dogs and cats.
* A key part of their mission is
It’s The Law! matching pets with seniors who want
a companion but would be frightened
to accept the responsibility without the
Did You Know That, In support of The Pet Cottage.
About The Pet Cottage
Florida… We celebrate and protect the magical
relationship between people and their
By Adam S. Gumson, pets by providing homestyle care for
Esq. pets who lose their humans due to death, Mickey Schmitt with Lil, Suzanne
Adult guardianship disability, or deployment. Through our Weinstein and Linda Del Prete. Bryan and Ellen Daly. Photo by Lisa
is the process by two unique programs – The Sanctuary Photo by Lisa Gendal Gendal
which the court finds a
ward’s ability to make
decisions so impaired
that the court appoints
a guardian to make
decisions for the ward.
Guardianship is only
warranted when the
court does not find a less restrictive alternative
available (such as a durable power of attorney,
health care surrogate, trust or other form of pre-
need directive).
Summary administration is a probate shortcut
that can be used in Florida if 1) the death occurred
more than two years ago or 2) the probate assets do not
exceed $75,000 in value. The court doesn’t appoint a
personal representative (executor or administrator)
for the estate, but instead issues an order releasing
the property to the beneficiaries who are entitled to Volunteer Vickie Billy and Andy Billy in
it. It is far quicker and less expensive than a formal Claire Johnson with Zack and Zoey. front of The Pet Cottage’s Photo Wall.
probate proceeding. Invitation to the party at The Pet Cottage Photo by Lisa James Photo by Lisa James
A seller in a real estate transaction may sign a
limited power of attorney, which authorizes someone
else to sign closing documents. The document should
state the specific powers the seller is granting to the
attorney-in-fact, the seller must sign it in the presence
of two witnesses, and it must be properly notarized.
If the divorcing spouses can’t agree on how to
distribute their marital residence, the court may be
asked to partition the residence and, in such case, may
direct that it be sold to a buyer for the current market
value and the net sales proceeds are equally divided.
Jupiter Law Center is a private neighborhood
law firm located in the RiverPlace Professional
Center, 1003 W. Indiantown Road, Suite 210, Jupiter,
Fla., (561) 744-4600, jupiterlawcenter.com. The
firm provides peace of mind by solving problems
with integrity and compassion in the areas of estate
planning (wills and trusts, powers of attorney,
health care surrogates, living wills, probate estates,
succession planning, contracts and purchase/
sale agreements), family law (divorce, paternity,
child support and time sharing, alimony, property
distribution, modifications, collaborative law, pre/
post nuptial agreements) and real estate (community
association law, residential and commercial
transactions, deeds, closings).