More and more postive attention is being paid to animals with disabilities, or those that become disabled… and we humans are learning from them that a disability is not a disability in their minds.  They teach us that yes, indeed, there are road blocks in life, but you go around them or straight through them and carry on with just like Molly and Kathy are doing.  Woo hoo!

Reprinted from Sun Journal, story by Francine Sliverman.  Be sure to check out the Sun Journal for a darling picture of Molly as her mom, Kathy looks on with such sweet love for Molly.

The heartbreaking decision of putting a sick or hurt family pet down is always a gamble if there is hope that the pet will recover. A New Bern woman gambled and continues to enjoy the companionship of Molly.

The gamble was not cheap and it has not been easy.

Molly, a longhair black dachshund, lives in the Brices Creek area of Craven County with her humans Kathy and Johnny Mattox.

Kathy Mattox said Molly has been with the family since she was 6 weeks old. Now 6 years old, Mattox had a scare when she noticed that Molly was having trouble walking and would not make it down the stairs in their two-story house. That was in October.

The next day Molly was in Cary at the Veterinary Specialist Hospital.

She got a CT scan and doctor told Mattox it looked bad.

She had a ruptured disc in her back and her brain was not communicating with her hind legs. Doctor’s could not guarantee that Molly would walk again even with surgery.

Without hesitating, Mattox agreed to the surgery and Molly was rolled into surgery.

By all accounts, the $3,000 surgery was a success.

Molly now walks with the assistance of a wheeled cart. “Molly’s vets at the Craven Animal Hospital who treat her, told me about the cart,” Mattox said. She purchased the cart, trademark name Eddie’s Wheels, online for $400.

The cart helps Molly get around. While her two hind legs are paralyzed, when she is connected to the cart she moves about almost normally. “She always uses the cart outside … she likes to chase squirrels and rabbits.” Mattox said.

Molly also plays catch with her rubber ball. Mattox throws it, and Molly gets it and brings it back.

There are some things the cart can’t help with, and Mattox does herself.

Molly’s bladder and anus have to be expressed. “If her bladder was not expressed she could explode,” Mattocks said. Molly’s bladder is expressed three times a day. Mattox senses when Molly has to go.

There is one more expense. Molly is in day care at Craven Animal Hospital. Molly’s humans both work. Mattox said Molly has a playpen at home, but she is more satisfied knowing that Molly is being cared for.

Molly has lost three pounds since surgery and her treats are now carrots, apples and cucumbers.

She loves to sit on the couch. “She doesn’t know that she cannot jump off the couch, so she stays down,” Mattox said.

“People think I am crazy, but I could not put her down. It breaks my heart to think that no one would go this route. I would encourage people to save their animals; they can cope with it,” Mattox said.

Mattox is going to have Molly trained and certified as a therapy dog. “I want people to benefit from her misfortune. Then they can see her get around and if she can help them, that would be a good thing,” Mattox said.

It has been a long haul for Molly, who was very shy and timid before her surgery. Molly would cower and stay close to Mattox when company came to the home. She is much more outgoing now.

It is apparent; Molly’s work is not over.

Francine Sawyer can be reached at 252-637-5671 or at fsawyer@freedomenc.com.