Finnegan Is my Hero

Today the Erie Times wrote a nice little article about a chocolate lab with severe hip dysplasia. Her humans fashioned a dog wheelchair out of a human wheelchair by putting a platform on it. Because of that article, I decided to write a little bit about helping a dog adapt to a disability on Finnegan's side of the Internet. Choosing to amputate you animal companion's limb is a huge decision to make. The results can be well worth the initial struggle if the human is educated about the process and willing to put a lot of effort into helping her canine companion succeed with three legs. Additionally, there are a lot of options for assistive devices to help make the transition easier, including dog wheelchairs and slings. When Finnegan could not walk by himself, we used sheets as slings to give him an extra boost. Eventually, and I must say rather quickly, he gained the strength and confidence to walk without help. In fact, he takes short walks with me in the neighborhood.

HURRAY FINNEGAN!