An update on Shila, the 3 paw pit bull

[IrishAyes]

10. Yes, the carts are a blessing

Sadly that was not an option for my old Chows, Joy and Freedom. At the advanced age of 16 they suffered slowly worsening paralysis. Well, Freedom had been senile and deaf plus half blind for at least a year too. For months I'd had to lift them to their rear feet, then they could walk. The last 3 months it got so bad I had to lift them to their front feet as well. Six times a day, then we'd all take a very slow outdoor walk around the house twice. They didn't seem to be in any particular pain, but when they stopped eating I had to let them go. Thank God I had more than enough room to bury them in the back yard, and a kind neighbor with a backhoe. It damned near killed me.

So I'm always glad when an animal and its human family don't have to be separated any sooner than necessary. It's almost laughable the way we still use the term 'owner', which always applied more to them than to us anyway.