May 3rd is Specially-Abled Pets Day!

Celebrate the Triumph of the Animal Spirit

               Just as there are many differently-abled people in the world, pets also often deal with a variety of medical issues that affect their senses and their mobility.  While we often transfer our own human emotions to our pets and may have a tendency to want to feel sorry for them, these amazing animals live in the moment, don’t dwell on what they have lost and adapt incredibly well, never missing what they no longer have. 

Patton Veterinary Hospital sees many specially-abled pets, and many of our staff have owned pets with disabilities.  Some have lost limbs due to cancer or to trauma such as being hit by a car or to limb deformities caused by birth defects.  Others are born deaf or lose their hearing or they lose their sight due to injury, glaucoma or other medical problems or they may be born blind or with limited vision.  And while we don’t currently have any patients who use a cart for mobility, there are many pets out there who suffered back injuries, slipped disks or other neurological problems who use what are essentially wheelchairs to get around.  There are even some lucky pets receiving prosthetic limbs and other adaptations to improve their mobility and quality of life after losing a limb.  Birds, reptiles and pocket pets may be differently-abled as well.  There are blind snakes, turtles with cracked shells, birds with limb deformities.  All can adapt to these changes with a little help. 

In most cases, the loss of their limbs or their sense of hearing or sight doesn’t keep these pets down.  They lead joyful, active lives despite some limitations.  As I said, they don’t miss what they have lost; they just work with what they have! 

From their website, www.speciallyabledpets.com, (they also have a Facebook page) the founder of Specially-Abled Pets Day explains,  “National Specially-abled Pets Day {formerly Disabled Pets Day} celebrates these amazing and heroic animals, helps to educate the public about caring for disabled pets and find homes for orphaned, specially-abled pets. Founded in 2006 and internationally embraced, the decision was made to change the name when founder Colleen Paige felt that it just didn't fit. ‘The name held too negative a connotation... because these pets are very able! Pets that become challenged due to disease, birth flaws or injuries, tend to develop greater senses than your average pet. Most of the time it's as if they never had to readjust to life...and we need to keep up with them!’”

If you have a specially-abled pet or have ever known one, you know there is nothing to feel sorry about.  Celebrate the spirit and can-do attitude and all the joy and love these special pets bring today!

NOTE: Pictured is Sweetie who lost her left hind leg to bone cancer, but never let it slow her down!

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.