Caring for our pets as they grow older asks something deeper of us, more noticing, more patience, and sometimes the courage to begin preparing for goodbye. In this heartfelt conversation, Adam Greenbaum, founder of Love, Baxter, shares his personal journey through losing his beloved dog Baxter and caring for his 16-year-old Boston Terrier, Sophie, who is living with dementia. Together, we explore anticipatory grief, senior pet care, making end-of-life decisions with clarity, and how to support someone grieving the loss of a pet. This episode is a gentle reminder that loving well includes planning well, and that no pet parent has to walk that road alone.

Guest Bio:

Adam Greenbaum is the founder of Love, Baxter, the world’s largest pet end-of-life resource and professional directory, created in honor of his late dog Baxter. He previously founded WhiskerCloud, a veterinary technology company that supported over 10,000 veterinary clinics globally before being acquired by PetDesk. Today, Adam partners with veterinary teams and human hospice professionals to remove friction for families, provide practical tools, and raise the standard of care from the first hard conversation through aftercare. He lives in Newport Beach, California with his wife Elizabeth, their senior Boston Terrier Sophie, one-year-old Boston Terrier Cosmo, and their cat Nala.

Takeaways:

1. Preparing for end-of-life care does not make it happen sooner, it creates clarity when it matters most.
2. Tracking “good days vs. bad days” can help pet parents make grounded, compassionate decisions.
3. You do not have to agree to euthanasia immediately if your pet is stable, you can pause and reflect.
4. There is no timeline for grief, and pet loss is not “less than” any other form of loss.
5. The most helpful thing you can say to someone grieving a pet is simple: I’m here. Tell me about them.
6. Routines and consistent systems (like feeding and walk schedules) can provide comfort for senior pets.
7. Take more photos and videos, not out of fear, but out of gratitude.
8. Loving our pets fully means honoring both the joyful seasons and the difficult ones.

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

1. Love, Baxter: Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / LinkedIn / YouTube/ Website
2. Senior pet planning quality of life
3. Connect with Adam Greenbaum on LinkedIn
4. Review the podcast on Podchaser
5. Sign up to our Tails and Tones newsletter here
6. Sign up to our Tails and Tones waiting list for our first product (Elevated Food System) here
7. Find Tails and Tones on our socials: Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / LinkedIn / YouTube / Website

Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:

[00:00] Intro Caring for our pets as they grow older

[02:14] Welcome Adam Greenbaum

[02:52] Adam introduces himself, Sophie, Cosmo, Nala & WhiskerCloud

[04:18] The loss of Baxter & why Love, Baxter was created

[06:56] Insurance, access to care & the chaos at end-of-life

[08:12] What people are actually searching for in crisis moments

[10:20] Senior dogs, dementia & what we don’t talk about enough

[12:49] Planning ahead, red lines & tracking good vs. bad days

[14:07] You don’t have to euthanize immediately

[16:40] Adapting care as dogs age, feeding, routines & daily life

[20:30] The power of consistent systems for senior pets

[22:19] What to say and not say after someone loses a pet

[25:09] “It was just a pet” navigating minimization & grief

[29:08] There is no timeline for grief

[31:24] Preserving memories, photos, rituals & honoring their life

[32:18] Why we replay the final days

[35:24] Small rituals that help during grief

[37:09] How loving our pets changes how we move through the world

[39:17] What Adam hopes grieving pet parents feel

[41:15] What makes a founder build something that truly matters

[42:22] Closing reflections