Special Needs Pet Feature: Idgie

Just a special reminder to join me and author Mary Shafer, Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them over at award winning and pet expert Darlene Arden’s Facebook Fan page on the disscussion board as we discuss:  Who’s Savin’ Who? How Rescued Special Needs Pets Rescue Us.

What is your pet’s name?

Idgie, named after the lead character in my favorite movie, “Fried Green Tomatoes,” because she’s a scrappy little fighter, just like Imogene Louise Threadgoode.

How old is your pet?

Almost 9

Where did you get your pet?

We adopted her from a PetSmart store, where she was the last of her litter that had been rescued from the streets of Philly after their mom had been killed.

What is your pet’s physical challenge?

Idgie was born with anophthalmia — no eyes. She is completely blind and has never seen.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to do?

Idgie loves to lay in my lap while I’m working, half on the  keyboard tray, purring.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to eat?

I know I’m gonna have so many people yell at me about this: She absolutely ADORES pizza-flavored Goldfish Crackers from Pepperidge Farm. I don’t give her a lot of them, but I can’t open the bag without her flying into my office from wherever she is in the house.

What do you love most about your pet?

She is just the best little pal I’ve ever had. Perhaps because of her own trials, she’s very sensitive to the emotions of others. But I also love how incredibly intelligent she is. You can almost see her thinking sometimes.

What has your pet most taught you?

That there is always a way. If she wants something bad enough, she figures out a way to make it happen or get it. I don’t think she’s even aware she lacks what so many of us consider a vital sense, so she doesn’t allow it to limit her. That makes me realize I never have any excuse not to try.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’d like to think Idgie was brought into my life to help me become a better person, more self-sufficient yet sensitive to others, and to be strong. But I must admit that I have no dread like that of the day she will leave me. It’s something I cannot even bear to think about. I hope when that day comes, I prove myself worthy of having been blessed with her love and the gift of her in my life.

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***If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact. Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.***

Who’s Savin’ Who? When Rescued Special Needs Pets Rescue Us


This is a special invitation to join in a heart-warming, thoughtful discussion of how special needs pets can affect our lives in ways we never imagined.

Join author Mary Shafer of Almost Perfect Pets and the People Who Love Them and award winning author, Barbara Techel of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog book series as they begin their discussion which they hope will help others see special needs pets in a whole new and wonderful way.

This discussion will begin Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 and will run through Saturday, May 28th on host Darlene Arden’s popular Facebook Fan page. Darlene is an award winning author, journalist, speaker and certified animal behavior consultant.  She is passionate about the welfare of animals and her goal is always the same: To enhance the lives of dogs and cats. Her newest book now out, The Complete Cat’s Meow: Everything You Need to Know about Caring for Your CatDarlene has hosted numerous discussions on her previous group Facebook page, “Rover! Get Off Her Leg!” which you can view in the archives.


Mary and Barbara hope to encourage others to give thoughtful consideration to a special needs pet as well as resources to help educate others about the options, and help in caring for a special needs pet.

We invite you to join in the discussion to share your stories as well as resources you may know to help enlighten others of all the blessings that these animals truly are.

Mary’s special needs pet, Idgie, born without eyes.


 

Barbara’s special needs pet, Frankie, known as the “walk ‘n roll dog” who has Intervertebral Disc Disease.