|
You can work
with a pet's disability
May 31, 2007
As many of us experience daily in our relationships with them, our pets
enhance our quality of life. From their daily dose of unconditional love
to the goofy antics that put smiles on our faces, the big moments and
the little moments are equally enriching.
In our role in this enduring relationship, we aspire to contribute to
their quality of life as well. We provide a home for them -- or in their
eyes, a social order. In addition to the basics of food, water, and
shelter we also hope to provide them with a stimulating, enriching life
that includes daily walks, outings with the family or the all-important
one-on-one play time.
The role of a service dog guiding a person through a life of blindness,
deafness or epilepsy, for example, is an example of just how powerful a
companion animal's role can be in our lives. But what if the roles were
reversed and our pet was faced with blindness or deafness. How can we
aspire to "guide" them through life?
One of the first steps is an understanding that a pet's life is not
diminished simply because it cannot see or hear. A cat dealing with
blindness or a dog born deaf can experience a very healthy and full
life. Ultimately they learn to rely on their other senses and often
these senses become even keener over time.
What is required of us is to learn a new way to communicate with them
that "speaks" to their other senses.
In the case of a dog that is either born deaf or becomes deaf later in
life, you only have to join it in its new world and tune in to the world
that guides it: movement, vibration and light.
And just as with humans, sign language is a necessity. It may seem odd
but you and your pet can adapt to this new way of communicating. It just
takes patience and a willingness to learn; the results can be amazing.
Many owners of deaf dogs use American Sign Language, or create their own
form of sign language.
Another important aspect of working with a dog that is deaf is to work
through desensitization exercises that keep them from being startled
when touched, for example. Because their other senses are heightened,
until they begin to recognize normal stimuli, they can be easily
frightened. Similarly, you'd want to desensitize a blind dog to sounds.
Of course, there are special modifications that must be made in
lifestyle. For example, a blind cat should not be allowed to roam free
outdoors, where it would be very susceptible to the dangers there, such
as traffic.
Because blind cats depend upon scent and sound they can quickly become
lost once they stray from their normal territories. But just because an
indoor cat is blind doesn't mean that its lifestyle has to be
diminished. They love playing with noisy toys such as those with bells
or scrunched paper and this appeals to their heightened sense of sound.
There are many wonderful online resources that can provide information
and tips on living life with a pet with special needs, including the
Deaf Dog Education Action Fund at
www.deafdogs.org and
www.specialneedspets.org.
The best resource to call upon first is a core understanding that their
differences do not diminish our lives or theirs. In fact, it only
enhances them.
- Gloria
Dauphin
|
