Nationally Specially-Abled Pets Day

Special-Abled Pets Day is coming up on May 3rd. This is one cause that all animal lovers can unite behind. Many sweet and loving dogs and cats with disabilities—or rather, special abilities—are overlooked in shelters. That’s very sad, because they are just as cute, fun, and lovable as any other pet. A Sandstone, MN vet discusses specially-abled pets below. 

Specially-Abled Pets: Who Are They?

Specially-abled pets are not afflicted with any one condition: it’s an umbrella term that covers any and all physical handicaps. This can mean anything from a pup with only one eye to a kitty who can’t hear to a poodle with three legs. There are about million specially-abled pets out there. We’d love to see all of them get adopted!

Resilience

One of the best things about our animal companions is the fact that they are remarkably resilient, and can bounce back from horrific experiences without losing the ability to love. Specially-abled pets are often particularly affectionate, simply because many of them are so desperate for love. Not only is adopting one of these guys a very special experience, it can actually be life-changing. 

A Sad Plight

Many people automatically pass by specially-abled pets, often because they assume that Fluffy and Fido need a lot of extra care or will require expensive treatments and medication. That isn’t necessarily the case, though. For instance, a pup who has lost one eye may not need any more check ups than another pooch would, once he has healed. The main thing is to ask, and find out what Fido or Fluffy’s care needs will entail. As far as expense goes, you may find that some shelters will offer significant discounts for the pets that are not easily adopted. It never hurts to ask! 

Tips For Adopting

Adopting any animal is a serious and lifelong commitment. That is definitely the case with specially-abled pets. Many of these guys are very happy and playful, and don’t seem to notice that they’re a bit different. However, there are things you may need to do a little differently. For instance, you may need to set out baby gates and carpet runners for a blind dog, or use hand signals to communicate with a deaf one. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Contact us, your Sandstone, MN animal clinic, today!