Bucks Writs - Summer 2018 - 6

From the Editor...
My Tripawd

The Writs is of course a publication
by and for the Bucks County Bar
Association and its individual
members. Any member may
submit content for publication and
no such submission has ever been
withheld or censored.

The Spring issue of the Writs
- featuring a cover photo
and essay from a 16-year-old
guest writer who attended
the March for Our Lives in
Doylestown - generated
more feedback than any
previous issue with which
I have been associated as
Editor. Two people called
(one anonymously) to
voice their displeasure, and two e-mails were written
to the President of the Bar Association. One of the
writers expressed concern that the Writs had covered
a "significant political issue" and may have "cross(ed)
the line between journalism and advocacy" while
the other flat out accused
the Writs of "adopt(ing) a
political agenda." These
letters resulted in a spirited
Local uden
MarchSt
for Outs
discussion at the May
r Lives
2018 BCBA Board of
Directors Meeting and the
creation of an "Ad Hoc
Committee on Editorial
Policy Issues Concerning
COMMISSIONER
Bucks County Bar
ROBERT LOUGHE
RY
CONTROLLER
NEALE DOUGHE
Association Publications."
RTY

My dog is now a Tripawd, a clever term to describe a
three-legged dog or cat. "Utley" the goldendoodle - half
poodle and half retriever - was named for the Phillies
second baseman in late 2007. At the time, Chase Utley
was a two-time all star and had placed eighth in the MVP
voting that year, but had come up small in the post season
as the Phillies were swept by the Colorado Rockies. In a
leap of faith, my family chose to name our pup after a
mere up and coming local athlete known for playing the
game "the right way." We had no idea he would soon
become a beloved and legendary fan favorite on a world
championship team, who ten years later is still playing the
game (with the Los Angeles Dodgers) the right way. Chase
is being celebrated again as he has recently announced his
retirement, effective at the end of this season.

SPRING 2018

My family also never imagined how our dog
would eventually live up to his namesake's spirit
and determination.
Utley was always very active and could be a bit
mischievous. His puppy-hood behaviors had lasted a good
four years. When he started limping around the first of
this year, it was hard to tell if he had been injured or even
which paw he was favoring. Several X-rays, examinations
and veterinary referrals followed. Despite a regimen of
rest and a combination of pain medications, he was still
limping and clearly in pain. It turns out that the culprit
was a small mass on the "elbow" of his left forelimb, and
by late February, following a biopsy, we had the definitive
diagnosis of osteosarcoma, or bone cancer.

Several thoughts here as Editor. Initially, it
should be noted that additional feedback of a much more
positive nature was also received. Second, the Writs is
of course a publication by and for the Bucks County Bar
Association and its individual members. Any member may
submit content for publication and no such submission
has ever been withheld or censored. Here, neither of
the referenced letter writers wished to be published or
otherwise provide any article expressing a "counterpoint."
Finally, with a nod to Richard Nixon's infamous "Checkers
speech," it seems the right time to change the narrative.
In 1952, while running as Eisenhower's Vice President, and
somewhat under siege for various fundraising improprieties, Nixon spoke on national television about his black
and white cocker spaniel, "Checkers." Not coincidentally,
his political fortunes immediately improved and the rest,
as they say, is history.

This was essentially the worst case scenario. We were
now referred to an oncologist and two days after our
initial consult, at our behest, Utley's leg was amputated.
The alternative was dire and unacceptable. He would
have been on increasing doses of pain medication, until
it was time (weeks later?) to end his suffering. Instead,
6

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