Thank you JDWard for this guest blog post
A long time ago, I decided that all life was sacred, and that I would do whatever possible to help an animal in need, regardless of size or type — or in the case of actually rescuing animals, the type of injury or illness. Providing more time to run, laugh (yes, animals do), have fun, and to experience love. To be loved was paramount — even if time was short or the injury severe. Just sharing five minutes of love was a blessing.
“Special” Animals Are Truly Special!
I learned “on the job” as a volunteer rescuer that animals with special needs were truly special. They knew implicitly that without our kindness and mercy they could not eat or drink or even go potty in some cases.
In return, they love deeper, laugh more, and even dance!
They enjoy their lives a little more and teach us to do the same, despite their pain and/or limitations, because they know deep inside that they almost were called to the Great Beyond.
The Rescue Ranch: Pasha’s Story
Pasha is one of the many special needs animals at the Rescue Ranch, to the north of Houston, Texas.
A smaller Golden Retriever, Pasha had been left outside on New Year’s Eve. By oversight, during extremely extenuating circumstances, the fenced yard gate was left open. With Pasha’s anxiety of loud noises, she ran and was hit by a car.
Surgery, with many screws embedded in her back, saved her life but not her ability to walk. After two years of trying with minimal success, her family finally surrendered her, along with her doggie wheelchair or rear-wheel cart. Her rear legs were paralyzed.
The Rescue Ranch: Bitty’s Story
Bitty, all three pounds of him, is a little Chihuahua with the personality of a BIG dog. He was rushed into a shelter, wrapped up in a bloody, kitchen towel.
An unfortunate accident caused the loss of his tail and his private parts — ALL of them. It took two rescuers and a vet, with an anatomy book placed next to him, to figure out what leftover “bits” went where before he could even be considered for lifesaving surgery.
As Pasha and Bitty have gotten older, they need more help. Pasha needed something to protect her skin from degrading. Very independent, she pulls her legs behind her when she is not in her cart to get from room to room on the tile floors. The movement, however, activates her bowels and bladder when it isn’t time to manually express her, thus creating a trail!
More Help Needed
Diapers and suspenders — to keep them from slipping off — have made a huge difference to her and to her caretakers. A Drag Bag and a spare, and diapers and suspenders not only allow us to leave protective ointment on her now fur-less skin area, but make housekeeping much less of a chore!
Bitty had no tail to help hold diapers on and has to urinate like a girl dog now. But as he has been aging, he has less control over when he urinates. Diapers with suspenders allow ointment to be slathered on his bottom, where the urine drips scorch his skin, and also help catch them when he barks!
A Little Help at Hand
The Rescue Ranch is so grateful for the kindness shown by Walkin’ Pets, helping us to continue to help these precious animals. With just a little extra help, they can live almost normal lives instead of
We have also found that our lives are blessed by helping these special animals. There is truly no limit to their love, plus we all laugh together — and sometimes cry together. But always, we get lots of “thank you” kisses!
About our guest blogger: JDWard or Jane, has been rescuing special need animals since she was twelve. She co-founded the Rescue Ranch over ten years ago, after realizing that some animals needed such time-intensive or specialized care that they could not be adopted, and owners were surrendering their animals because they had to work. The Rescue Ranch is a place where they all could rest easy, knowing they had a loving place to live out the rest of their lives, no matter how long or short. Jane welcomes all “angels” who would like to help. Please see the Rescue Ranch website for more information, or email: [email protected]. Grateful. Truly.
