Disabled pet rally

[Catherine]

I would love to attended this. Many of my pets are disabled.

This is a really great idea. It brings together people with disabled pets to celebrate what they can do and how special they are.

http://news.google.ca/news/url?sr=1&ct2=...t=2&at=dt0

I think it would have been helpful to talk to the people who produce the wheels and artificial legs. All the dogs seemed so happy no matter how much they are disabled. Seeing them run around with their wheels is inspiring.

[Tobi]

What fun! And it does show that much of the time, dogs (and other animals) can live very happy lives with prostheses and 'wheels'! So long as they are pain-free and healthy in other respects, these aids really allow them to live and enjoy themselves.

I am a great fan of Noel Fitpatrick, the UK orthopaedic specialist who creates endo-prostheses for cats and dogs. This is cutting-edge technology and there are remarkable results. In the old days such animals would have just been put to sleep.

[Catherine]

Dogs and cats seem to do better than people with prosthetic limbs. They don't care what they look like. They are happy to be alive and able to get around. They love their wheels and fancy new feet.

Noel Fitzpatrick is a real genius in the work he does.

[Tobi]

I know. So often I have thought it is mind over matter. These dogs and cats have their minds in the right place. I love walking about outside so always think if ever I needed prosthetic limbs, I would be happy to give it a go!

My Dad was an engineer, and when I was very little, he told me there is always a workable solution to any problem. It only depends on whether a person's mind will accept the solution or not. I feel he was right. Most dogs (and cats) don't even bother to ask questions. All they want is to be pain free and get on with what they were doing before (with some slight modifications!)

[Catherine]

Quote:My Dad was an engineer, and when I was very little, he told me there is always a workable solution to any problem. It only depends on whether a person's mind will accept the solution or not. I feel he was right. Most dogs (and cats) don't even bother to ask questions. All they want is to be pain free and get on with what they were doing before (with some slight modifications!)

Your Dad was so right. Most people will not accept the solutions that are offered to them.
Cats and dogs are given new limbs and they just get up and go. Animals do not care what they look like.  They don't grieve and mope over the loss of a limb. If we could accept things the way animals do we would do much better.