Maestro sucked up to all the ladies at the car dealership, showing off his new wheels. Photo by R-M Arca.

After attending the Heritage Day festivities offered by the City of Calgary this past summer, I caved and ordered Maestro a dog stroller from Amazon. You try carrying an arthritic dog who can only walk a few feet before wanting a break. And when he wants a break, he’ll just park it wherever he stops. He doesn't care if he’s in the way.

Not only that, but he has perfected how to sink his entire weight into your arms. Suddenly, 18 pounds feels so much heavier after walking a few blocks.

"This is fun," says Maestro. Photo by R-M Arca.

He loves his Pet Gear dog stroller. Just like his Halloween costume, he looks so smug when he’s riding his Maestro Mobile.

As for the comments, some people make snide remarks - out loud - about how backwards it is for the human to be pushing a stroller and not walking the dog. I know, I used to be one of those people. But now, after meeting so many pets with injuries or, like Maestro, has canine arthritis and a degenerative disease, I get it.

Sometimes, I get frustrated when I hear the comments. I reach a point where I can’t let it slide. That’s when I pull him out of his stroller and say, “All right, Old Man, are you up for walking a bit?” Then he dutifully waddles in front of the person who made the snide remark.

Suddenly, their tune changes, “Oh! He’s hurt! That’s why he’s in a stroller.”

You know, I think we are quick to jump to conclusions and judge others. We don’t think (or in some cases, don’t care) that what we are saying hurts others. Or, we don’t even try to see something from another perspective.

Reserving judgment, and exercising a little patience and understanding can go a long way. This is what having an elderly pet, and relatives who are getting older has taught me.

Maestro has grown up going out for adventures. Just because he can’t walk as far as he used to, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want them. Besides, how can you say no to this face?