Living with Cerebral Palsy

To be honest, sometimes when you have a disability, your social life isn’t the greatest. It is just hard to get out and participate in the same activities as your peers. As I get older, I have noticed a significant decline in my abilities. I don’t get out as much as I used to, because it is simply more difficult. I tire more easily; and I find myself wanting to go back home, find my comfy chair, and grab a warm throw. (Of course, anyone living in Wyoming in the winter would probably say the same thing.) I also love coming home to my dog and two cats. I think pets for the disabled are great!

My Dog

To be honest, my kids are not really fond of my dog. They prefer their cats. It seems we each have our favorite pet. I admit the dog seems to be a lot more work. But, at least he goes to the bathroom outside! I love the cats; I hate their litter box.

I admit my dog is not perfect; in fact, he is not the smartest canine I have ever met. But, he loves me; he is faithful; my dog does not care if I can walk, talk, or do anything else for that matter. He just wants to cuddle. He has no expectations of me, and he still loves me, even if I just yelled at him for chewing up another of my son’s toys.

Pets for the Disabled

For these reasons and more, I do recommend pets for the disabled. In fact, some people with physical disabilities have dogs that are trained to help them around the house; bark for help, if something goes wrong; or, shield their masters from the elements, if they fall down outside.

But, even a mutt rescued from the pound can be a great blessing in the lives of disabled individuals. For example, I got my first dog when I was seven. She just showed up on our doorstep one day and stayed. From day one, she was the perfect pet for me. Although we never knew her exact age, she always acted like an older dog. She seemed to pick me as her favorite person, because I never moved too fast for her; and I would sit in one place and let her cuddle me forever.

I also let her be boss. My dad told me that if she ever bit one of us kids, she was out the door. So, when I would try to move her off of my pillow and she growled, she got the pillow. I, on the other hand, got a corner of it or none at all, because I did not want her to get mad and bite me. Maybe that is why she liked me so much.

The Emotional Connection

When I could not go out and play with the other kids my age, my dog was there to keep me company. Today, when the kids are at school, and the house is quiet and lonely, my dog is at my feet while I am working, sleeping, or doing household chores.

Do you have a pet that seems to understand you, and loves you regardless of your abilities or disabilities? Do you have a pet that doubles as a helper, so that you can be just a little more independent? Tell me about your best animal friend.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 11:07 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.