Through hard work and perseverance, Coco is making progress in adjusting to her new life.
Here’s Coco to tell you how this week went…
I went to school with Mom on Wednesday and Friday this week. It felt good to work two full days. It definitely takes me much longer to move around than it did before my surgery, but I love the work so much!
On both days, I spent lots of time in the behavior specialist’s room with the students and staff in there. They are all used to me having three legs, so the work I do is the same as it was before my surgery. Students sit near me to work or study. Some students need a break so they curl up on the floor with me. Others take me outside.
The hardest part about working now is that is takes me longer to get from the main office area to the behavior specialist’s room. Mom says I am pretty resourceful – I walk close to the wall so I can use it for support and balance. Sometimes when people take me outside, I just plop down in the grass and I won’t get up. The truth is it takes a lot of energy to walk on three legs. On average, dogs bear 60% of their weight on their front legs. Imagine having half of that weight bearing capacity removed…it is tough, especially for an old lady like me, whose rear legs are not very strong. Mom brought me to physical therapy on Wednesday – I love the physical therapist – she showed Mom some exercises to help limber up my spine, which should help with weight distribution and walking. I also got to go on the treadmill that is in the water. Although it frightened me, it was good. The assistant held up my front leg, and I was forced to work my back legs. Mom works at home with me on limbering up my spine now, and she has been making me walk more to help with my stamina. It is tough, and I would rather lie down sometimes, but I know Mom is just trying to help me.
I will go to work with Mom twice again this week, and I will go for physical therapy again. I am also especially excited about working with Mom at Bright Spot Therapy Dogs Fun Day with Dog Days at Barnes and Noble in Hadley next Saturday, November 14th. Mom says I will be there for most of the day with her.
I may be slower than I was before my surgery, but I still love the work I get to do. ~Coco