Petside Items: Dachshunds and Guest Blogger Jo Singer

Sometimes things happen in our lives over which we have little control. Sometimes these events force us to make decisions, which are difficult and very painful. Sometimes we find ourselves in deep conflict when we must re-home a beloved pet when circumstances are intolerable.

I first heard the expression, "it’s ability that counts" while volunteering in a therapeutic horseback riding program. Rather than focusing on the disability, these four energized words perfectly describe the philosophy to which all of these therapeutic programs subscribe. Stretch, an incredibly brave and feisty three-year-old feisty Dachshund embodies this expression.

Dachshunds are prone to back injuries. Often these injuries result in hind end paralysis. When Stretch was injured jumping off the couch, he seriously injured a disk. He had surgery in the hopes of restoring his ability to walk. His recovery time was long and involved. His owner had suffered a serious heart attack and was recovering from his own surgery. The family was going through some major upheavals, so, reluctantly and with great sadness, they had to surrender him to their veterinarian to be re-homed. Alternative treatments failed to restore his complete mobility.

The staff at Florida Wild Veterinary Hospital fell in love with Stretch, giving him an abundance of love and attention, but Stretch was becoming anxious and testy when he was caged. Listed on Petfinder.com, finding a forever loving home was their priority.

Several people showed interest in adopting him, but when they saw the extent of his challenges, they changed their minds. The clinic staff was very disappointed, but miracles do happen. . . Jeanna and Chuck Dennis came into Stretch's life.

Yesterday morning, I was able to speak with Jeanna on the phone. We had so much in common; it was like speaking with a long-lost friend. Like me, a transplant from New York State to Florida, we both are passionate about animals and both of us love horses.

This is the story about how Stretch found them and how he came to find a loving forever home with them.

Jeanna and her husband were browsing through the web last week, and up popped Stretch. Missing their beloved Dachshund Spaetzle, who sadly did not recover from a second back surgery, they were excited to find Stretch. Having experience caring for a rear end paralyzed dog, it was love at first sight. They traveled a long distance to meet him and I highly suspect that Spaetzle may have had a paw in their discovery.

Stretch has fallen in love with Jeanna and Chuck's menagerie of adopted dogs. One in particular, Charley Grunt, a Pit Bull takes special care of his new brother. Jeanna says, "Can you imagine, a pit bull with their reputation playing with a paralyzed dachshund of less than ten pounds? Our home looks like the movie, Disney's Ugly Dachshund, but with a Pit-bull, not a Great Dane!"

They are grateful to Florida Wild Veterinary Clinic staff, which with their excellent care and commitment made it possible for Stretch to join their family. Jeanna is hopeful that this blog entry will "show others that all pets need love and a home, disabled or not."

Having personally shared my heart with several special needs cats and horses, I have to say that they are a delight. Just the knowledge that we have contributed to each other and have enhanced both our lives makes it a very humbling and meaningful experience.

Have you ever adopted a special needs pet, or consider the possibility? Leave a comment and let us know.