Special Needs Pet Feature: Elke

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?

Elke

How old is your pet?

2.5 yrs

Where did you get your pet?

Fayette Co. Humane Society

What is your pet’s physical challenge?

Paralysis in rear legs.

What is your pets favorite thing to do?

She loves to get toys and scoot around the floor with them.  She also loves belly rubs in the morning, when she first wakes up.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to eat?

Well, she is on a frozen raw diet, which she loves.  And she also loves to get Bully bits to chew on.

What do you love most about your pet?

That she is a survivor. Elke was hit by a car and sustained a crushed pelvis and two broken vertebrae in her lumbar region.  She was determined to get better, and right now, she sees herself as a normal little dog.

What has your pet most taught you?

Patience and to never give up. Even when several vets told us to euthanize her, I just took one look into those eyes, and I knew she was not ready to give up.

Anything else you’d like to share? 

With all that Elke has been through, she is still a loving sweet girl.  And in her condition, she is still enjoying life.  She makes each day count, even when she is having a bad day and not feeling the best, she always has a kiss for me.

Elke’s mom, Dona serves on the board for Dachshund of North America as well as foster mom for many animals.  Please check out DRNA’s website for pets needing a loving, forever home.

Thank you Elke for stopping by and a big thank you to your mom for all she does to help the animals!

Compassion and Action: Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary

Posted by Barbara Techel
Sharing a lovely, lovely story from Guideposts about another beautiful no-kill shelter.  Be sure to  watch the video of the interview- you may just fall in love with the shy, cute white poodle!

Glenn a stallion who is blind in one eye and must be in a corral alone was feeling quite lonely.  He now has a goat who keeps him company.
Story from Guideposts By Sharon Azar

“Look deep into the eyes of any animal, and then for a moment, trade places. Their lives become as precious as your life, and you become as vulnerable as them. Now smile if you believe all animals deserve our respect and our protection. For in a way, they are us. And we are them.”—Philip Ochoa Board Member, All for Animals

All things can be overcome with knowledge and understanding, and thanks to an ever-growing group of people who care deeply, there is an increasing awareness in the world about the dark world of animal cruelty. Having seen some pretty bad cases of animal abuse in my 30 years of rescuing dogs, it’s heartening to see some hope and light.  Click here to read the rest of this story.

 

Joy is: Connecting with Pet Parents Who Care for Disabled Animals

Posted by Barbara Techel

One of my goals this year is to keep up with my blogs. Not an easy feat now that I have started three new big projects (watch in upcoming weeks/months for announcement of new projects)- but I am determined to do my best.

A few weeks ago I was wondering how I would find enough to blog, and wondering what would I blog about. Early one afternoon I was adoringly looking at Frankie, all snuggled in her bed, toasting her long snausage body in front of the fireplace when an overwhelming amount of love filled my heart.  Nothing new for me really, but all of a sudden an idea hit me.  I’m sure there are many more people in the world who love their disabled pets as much as I do, and I’d love to hear about those pets.  And how fun it would be to share them with you, my readers!


So I put out a call via Facebook and Twitter and was amazed at the response I got!  So right now through the end of April I will feature a special needs pet each Monday.  I hope to get more photos, so if you or anyone you know has a pet with special needs, please email me at joyfulpaws@yahoo.com with a photo, and I’ll forward questionnaire for your pet to be featured.

As I began receiving the photos and questionnaires from people all over the US, I felt my heart fill with even more joy.  With every photo I opened, tears would fill my eyes and blur my vision for a bit.  Not out of pity, but out of immense love not only for the dog or cat, but for the parent who loves this pet with all their heart.

One of the resounding things many of the pet parents have shared with me is that their pet has taught them patience.  I had a few giggles over that, as I can very much relate.  Oh, how my patience has gotten better because of Frankie… which in turn has made me a calmer person.  Oh, how grateful I am, and I could feel that same thing in all the photos and questionnaire’s I got from others.

What a simple thing to do… share photos/stories of other special needs pets… and what a gift of joy it has been to me.  I hope it has been to you also.

I’d love to know if you are enjoying my weekly Special Needs Pet Feature and if there is something else you’d like for me to talk about or share on my blog, please let me know that too.

I sincerely appreciate each and everyone of you.