Did you know that in addition to serving as our best friends and extended members of the family that dogs serve four critical roles in society?
First, there are service dogs. These specially trained animals perform specific tasks for and work with people with disabilities.
Then, there are working dogs. According to the American Kennel Club, these animals are trained to perform specialized tasks that assist their human companions. An example of a working dog might be a police or military dog.
There are also therapy dogs. Often found in hospitals, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, these dogs are trained to provide comfort and affection in a clinical setting.
Finally, there are emotional support dogs. These animals provide support that helps ease anxiety through companionship.
“We have at least nine dogs who take turns providing emotional support and companionship in our office,” says Amy Duenas, a partner at Duenas Eden Cravatta, PLC.
Duenas Eden Cravatta, PLC is an award-winning law firm that provides highly customized legal service as it relates to all areas of family law.
According to Duenas, this includes:
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Divorce
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Adoption
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Child Support in Arizona
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Child Custody and Parenting Time
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Legal Decision Making
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Post-Decree Issues
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Premarital and Post Marital Agreements
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Same Sex Issues
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Spousal Maintenance
“This area of law deals with the most personal of matters,” says Duenas. “The work is certainly rewarding, but not without its daily stressors. Enter our furry friends daily!”
Duenas’ dog, Lola, is a fiery, 15-year-old Chihuahua who – of all the dogs – is currently on a break from her regular visits thanks to her new passion for peeing indoors.
“There is not a day, however, when one or more of our other little buddies isn’t with us,” says Duenas.
Her law partner Dori L. Eden has three dogs that make regular appearances. There are two Greyhounds – Rookie and Bo – who are retired racing dogs and then Golden Retriever Nora. And fellow partner Carrie P. Cravatta has a loveable mutt named Murphy.
“We also have a Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Pyrenees/Poodle mix, Giant Schnauzer and sweet Pit Bull who make regular visits,” says Duenas, adding that one member of their team volunteers for a Giant Schnauzer rescue so it is common for fosters to visit as well.
According to Duenas, having the freedom to invite the dogs to serve as honorary officemates is just one of the many benefits at the firm, which was formed in 2017.
“The seeds for Duenas Eden Cravatta were actually sewn far before 2017 when we made it official,” says Duenas, an Arizona native who competed as a swimmer and softball player in her youth before attending the University of Arizona for her bachelor's degree and then the University of Denver for her law degree.
While Duenas, who knew she would be a lawyer after reading To Kill a Mockingbird in fourth grade and idolizing Atticus Finch, initially planned to work in Tribal law and water usage rights, a professor at the University of Denver noticed her keen eye for family law and invited her to work in the student law office of a family law clinic.
“I initially imagined it would be a good resume builder, but the work changed my life,” says Duenas, who returned to the Valley following the completion of her law degree to take the Arizona Bar Exam.
Upon passing the bar, Duenas began her work in the field, eventually landing at a large practice that happened to office in the same building as Eden’s firm.
“By this time Dori was working successfully on her own, but her extensive background included years with Tiffany & Bosco, where she was named a partner, and The Law Offices of Scott David Stewart,” says Duenas, adding Eden is exceptionally skilled at all aspects of the dissolution of marriage and divorce as well as custody issues and negotiated settlements. “She also volunteered – and still does – on the Ahwatukee YMCA board of managers, among a litany of other nonprofit good works.”
The two attorneys became fast friends, so much so that when the idea of working together started to make sense, the women agreed to only further discussions if they wrote a document specifying that no business relationship would ever come between their personal friendship.
“This document in hand, we formed the business in 2017,” says Duenas. “Then enter Carrie.”
Carrie refers to the third partner in the practice, Carrie Cravetta.
At first, Duenas and Eden had the idea to entice Cravetta – known Valleywide for her deft skill in all things family law as well as for her volunteer work with Family Lawyer's Assistance Project (FLAP), a program through Community Legal Services that helps educate and assist individuals choosing to represent themselves in court matters – to be an associate member of the team.
“Within about 20 minutes, we knew she was our third piece, and she joined as a partner instead,” says Duenas.
Today, the team of strong women is dedicated to working with clients for the best possible outcome, pointing to cases wherein they are able to assist in formalizing adoptions as among the most heartwarming and poignant. The women – all mothers – are also dedicated to advocating for work-life balance.
“We work hard for so many families across Arizona, and in return, we work hard to be there for all of the big and small moments with our own families, both with our two- and four-legged children,” smiles Duenas.
For more information, visit DuenasEdenLaw.com.
