Facing a Gas Leak, She Thought Fast
A MATTER OF TRUST
Besides a fire, a gas leak is one of the worst things that can happen in the middle of the night. Fortunately for one Montana couple in 2007, Schnautzie the cat was on the case. She woke up her owners to alert them to the danger, preventing a deadly — and explosive — tragedy. People magazine reported that Greg and Trudy Guy adopted Schnautzie from a local pet store in April 2007. They’d gone with hopes of adopting a puppy but instead fell in love with a tiny black kitten. The couple only intended to foster Schnautzie, but she proved herself a hero and became a permanent family member. That October, Schnautzie climbed up on Trudy’s chest at 2 a.m. and started pawing at her nose. Since cats sometimes do strange (and annoying) things, Trudy didn’t think too much of it — until Schnautzie kept at it. Now, Schnautzie had her attention, especially when Trudy noticed her persistently sniffing the air around her. Once fully awake, Trudy noticed a hissing sound somewhere in the house. Getting up to investigate, she found a broken pipe outside her bathroom, pumping gas into the basement. “The gas was just fuming,” Trudy remembered. “Our house was saturated in a short time.” The Guys quickly vacated the house with Schnautzie in tow and called the fire department. Only upon the rescue workers’ arrival did the Guys realize the extent of the danger they had faced. While the gas alone could have killed them, it was also an unseasonably frigid night in October. Had the heater or water tank turned on, it would have ignited the fumes and caused an explosion. Schnautzie was a hero to the Guys, but extra treats and a permanent home were thanks enough for her. Still, she received a bit more than that in 2010. The Great Falls Animal Foundation learned how Schnautzie had saved the day and decided to honor her with the Purple Paw Award. While Schnautzie appreciated the thought, Greg said she didn’t enjoy the reception. “She’s shy around strangers,” he explained.
Loving My Clients and My Work
Though I’m an attorney, I’ve always seen myself as an educator. I still remember my mother thinking I was crazy when I announced I would attend law school instead of becoming a teacher. I don’t have the stereotypical aggressive lawyer disposition, and I’ve never “gone for the jugular” in my life.
But my work isn’t that big of a departure from teaching. Being an estate planning attorney allows me to educate my clients as we design an estate plan that preserves their assets for their loved ones. I learned about estate planning during law school and knew it would fit my strengths and interests perfectly. I quickly signed up for every tax law course I could. That sounds strange to some people because I’m not a tax attorney. But most estate planning revolves around helping my clients pay as little in taxes as possible. My knowledge of estate, gift, capital gains, and property taxes lets me advise clients on how to best protect their assets. I joined the Law Offices of Roy W. Litherland in 2011, and Litherland provided me with years of invaluable training and mentorship. I was honored to have my name added to the business in 2018. I’m now the firm’s sole owner after Litherland’s retirement in 2021, but we remain friends and go hiking several times a year. My other interests outside of work include spending time with my wife, Holly, and our 4-year-old son, Owen. Holly and I share a love of Yosemite National Park, and we both hiked to the top of the Half Dome before we met. Our home is filled with paintings and pictures of Yosemite, and we have countless fond memories of enjoying nature together. I’m also extremely passionate about the Alzheimer’s Association. Their dedication to finding a cure and supporting families managing this disease is unparalleled, and I engage in their annual walk and fundraising efforts. All proceeds for my book, “Yes, You Need an Estate Plan!” go directly to the organization — you can get your copy by visiting attorneyoffice.com/resources/book. My favorite part of my work is that it allows me to help people every day. In addition to creating a comprehensive living trust estate plan, I also work with families directly to help them administer the estate. It’s a privilege to serve as your family’s trusted advisor — for this generation and the next.
But there’s no doubt that Schnautzie deserved her award. Sally Cerny of the animal foundation told Catster.com that
the Purple Paw is given to pets who uniquely demonstrate the bond between animals and humans. And, she concluded, “There’s no more special way to show that than to save your family.”
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