Special Needs Pet Feature: Dumplin’

Posted by Barbara Techel

There are so many caring pet parents out there who take care of special needs pets. To bring more attention to these joyful animals, and extraordinary people, this is a new feature to my blog. 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.


What is your pets name?

Dumplin’

How old is your pet?

10

Where did you get your pet?

Waggytail Rescue in NYC (www.waggytailrescue.com)

What is your pets physical challenge?

Blindness.

What is your pets favorite thing to do?

Eat!

What is your pets favorite thing to eat?

Almost anything, but if I had to pick one thing I’d say Bully Sticks.

What do you love most about your pet?

She is just the absolute sweetest.  She always has the sweetest look in her eyes.  Her eyes make me melt every time.  Yes, even though she’s blind now they still do.  Ironic isn’t it?

What has your pet most taught you?

To be a trooper.  Don’t let anything stop you or get you down — just keep on truckin’.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Dumplin’ became blind from SARDs (Sudden Acute Retinal Degeneration), which causes dogs to become blind within 5-10 days.  It is due to a thinning of the retina.  There is no know cause or cure.  I want to raise awareness about SARDs and funding for research (http://www.sardsresearch.org/).

Thank you so much for sharing Dumplin’ with us!  What I love is that you are trying to bring more awareness to SARD’s by sharing Dumplin’ with us.

 

Not “Just A Dog”

Posted by Barbara Techel

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me, and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile….because they "just don't understand."

– Anonymous