This is “I know you want to take more pictures of me, but I refuse to look at you”  from Joie

A friend of mine received her invitation to my book launch in the mail the other day. She told me when her teenage son saw it he said, “I thought Frankie died.  Did she get a new one? Does she do this on purpose?” She told me he just had no idea there was another dog that had a disability like Frankie.

This surprised me at first. But it also reminded me of why I do what I do and will continue to.  It’s important to me to bring awareness to special needs pets and those in wheelchairs. It does happen to other pets- and it happens more often than I think some may realize. There is much work to continue to do.  And from what I know, since it is the world of which I’ve immersed myself, that dogs with IVDD that end up in rescue (if they are not full or able to take them) are not so easily adopted out. They require more “work” in terms of helping them with going to the bathroom as well as if they need physical therapy and/or wheelchair. It can be a tough road for them to find a loving, forever home.

So though my friend’s son’s comment took me by surprise I thought, “Yes, I do this on purpose.”  It didn’t start out that way as I never imagined Frankie would become disabled, nor did I think in my future I’d adopt a special needs dog, just as I told freelance writer, Deanne in a recent blog interview. But now I just can’t imagine my life being any other way. I purposely adopted Joie and someday (which I hope is many moons away) if I can, I will gladly open my arms and heart to another IVDD dog.