Octopus is a handicapped dog that came to Animal Aid in June from Ahmedabad. I had made a video awhile back to ask for help in creating a larger handicapped facility for paralyzed/handicapped dogs, and the woman that was caring for Octopus (Sandra Jhala) was featured in that video (the link is below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHkzVLqt46k
Sandra was being forced to move from the rented house and land she had lived at for many years, and was desperately trying to find good homes for her 20+ dogs. Animal Aid took in 4 handicapped dogs from Sandra...Octopus is one.
Octopus is a pretty special dog. She has an array of issues with her legs...her RF leg is completely twisted around and straight. Her LF one is twisted up into a ball. Her back legs are locked straight. I got down on the ground with her to get to know her better, and watched her as she pulled herself around...by her CHIN. That's right...she gets around by putting her chin on the ground (it's got quite a protective layer of skin built up on it...kind of like an old dogs elbow) and then placing her LF leg on the ground...and then pulling herself forward. Her back legs are not too helpful, so it's mainly her chin and LF leg that she uses.
She has such a sweet personality! I love this dog. She's very, very lucky...she had a loving owner in Ahmedabad, and now she has a home for the rest of her life at Animal Aid. Most handicapped or otherwise injured dogs in India are on their own...and as a result they live very hard, short lives.
This series of photos shows Octopus getting around, and then resting. There's not much this dog can't do, if given a little time. I even found her resting in a lounge chair one day...she had gotten up there all by herself!
3 comments:
What a "Darling" ! Such a strong will to survive. She looks like she knows she is loved... She knows she is just perfect the way she is because that's all she has known. Wish I was there to cuddle with her every day. I think a good nickname for her would be "Black Beauty"... Thanks for taking care of her !!! Sherry Snider
This breaks my heart but I do realize that she knows no other way of living. Animals are a gift to us humans to learn compassion, unconditional love, acceptance and forgiveness. The name DOG spelt backwards, I personally believe, is a hint to us human beings that animals are here to teach us what love is all about. GOD -
Erika, I love this story about Octopus. I do want to put it on the Animal Aid site and will ask Claire how to do it. You took wonderful photos--she is precious and you captured her darling soul and, as Sherry said (above)--you captured her "strong will to survive". She is a dog filled with joy. She just LOVES to be touched and held and cuddled, and she also loves to just amble around on her own. A happy spirit--thanks to Sandra Jhala her original family who loves her so much and taught Octopus how to trust in love.
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