She can even do a bunch of tricks! The younger one is dumb and sweet and wants to be everybody’s friend and is happy to be a follower. Can you accept that dogs have innate personalities you can’t train out of them? I got both my dogs as puppies and trained them the same way: the older one ended up smart as a whip, devious, a leader, a little bossy. Are you comfortable making a commitment to walk a dog at least every other day for the next ten+ years? Even when you feel awful? Do you have the spoons to devote to taking care of another living creature? Even on bad days? 3. If it really is just you without support, look in the mirror and really think about whether your disabilities fit with getting a dog. They can be sort of a release valve for when things are just too bad for you to take care of anybody but yourself. It’s not just money, though: if you have family members or a partner, or even helpful neighbors, they serve the same purpose. The more money you have, the worse your pain can be, because you can buy toys and equipment and afford to pay someone to walk the dogs when you’re hurting too bad. Can you afford it? (pain/health) I put pain after money because, shitty as it is, the former can influence the latter. How much money do you have/are you willing to spend? Realistically, can you swing a surprise thousand-dollar vet bill? People with disabilities should understand more than the average person that getting a dog who’s in good health now doesn’t mean things will stay that way. Your dog might need hip surgery, like mine, or get cancer, like my friend’s dog. But it really does add up, even spread over a long period of time …Except for when it isn’t. There are definitely ways to get by on less money! This isn’t to say that no person with disabilities can get a dog unless they have thousands to spare. One thing some people leave out is travel: can you afford to board a dog, or take it with you? (Boarding dogs costs more than you think it will!) Are you willing to stay home if things don’t work out? You should also consider breed restrictions in your area: even if your dog is a mutt, if they’re primarily what’s considered to be a “dangerous” breed, you may pay more in rent or even lose out on housing options. Toys and grooming and everything else are, you guessed it, expensive. (Ask me about my dog Kismet and her two hip surgeries! Food is expensive (ask me about my other dog Arrow and the prescription food she has to eat now because her butt got too chonky!). Can you afford it? (money) Dogs are expensive… and that’s if they’re healthy. For disabled people, getting a dog is even more of an undertaking! If you have disabilities, before getting a dog, ask yourself these 6 crucial questions: 1. But that doesn’t make dog “parenting” easy, cheap, or something you should get into without fully thinking through all aspects of the choice. Owning a dog is a great way to meet new people and a great excuse to get out in the world (we’re talking pets here, not service dogs). In addition to company and love, caring for a dog can get you out of your own head and off the couch at times when you wouldn’t or couldn’t otherwise. Have a favorite meme? Let us know in the comments below.įor people with disabilities, getting a dog can be a life-changing experience. Whenever someone asks me how I feel losing a testicle to cancer, this is how I respond. Via Crystal Freeman Pinterest Thyroid Cancer 24. Via Curitiba in English Ovarian Cancer 23. Via Bethany Hardesty Pinterest Prostate Cancer 20. Via Linda Zercoe Pinterest Endometrial Cancer 19. Never forget how strong you are ✊? post shared by The Blurt Foundation on at 10:10am PDT
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