You know, I researched this early on but then Cora started doing so well and then the 2nd amputation came up and I sort of forgot about it.

Cora really likes going on walks now. When we walk I provide balance and guide her. If you've been following her story you know she is neurologically damaged. Early assessments showed that her front leg and the back leg on the  right (the side where she is missing the front leg) didn't function normally. Her back legs work great now. Her front leg works much better than it did, but isn't as coordinated as a leg should be. She's also blind. She can't see where she is going so she doesn't know what the terrain will be. That front leg is having to adjust for what her eyes don't see. So as we walk I'm taking up the slack. When the leg stumbles or wobbles, I'm supporting her. When I'm not doing that she can get around but it's not a normal walk and it's slow and cautious. I just sort of accepted that I'm her guide and support. When we are out she is walking and doing much of the work. When she stops putting in effort I can sure tell. It's been tough on my body, but somehow I haven't really been thinking about that. I've been trying to heal from a SI joint (sacro-illiac, where your pelvis and spine meet) injury for weeks. I'm sure today I set that back again.

Poor Cora. She was eager to go on a walk when we got home. We went down to the river and I gave her some play time. She was so happy and rowdy I decided we'd continue on around the block. She really wanted to run. I guess she's come to trust me.When I'm not holding the leash she won't run more than a few steps. I'm recovering from an injury so running is hard. And I can't quite keep up anyway, she's getting fast. But I was trying. I have to keep her close to me so I can provide that balance and all of sudden she veered in front of me. I ran into her hard and then had to drop the leashed and jump away to keep from falling on her. She tumbled hard. She's not injured (although she may be sore tomorrow) but after that she was frightened. Any car that drove by, she cowered. And when we got home she bumped into the water dish. Something that normally wouldn't phase her led to a complete panic attack. Another panic attack came when I made a smoothie. I expect she will bounce back.

I actually talked to Eddie's Wheel's months ago. The interesting thing is they said wait until Cora was 8 months. Well she is there now. They can make a cart with room to grow. They can make a cart that can deal with her missing front leg and uncoordinated front leg.  My biggest fear is that with Cora's reactivity and stubbornness I will get the cart and she won't use it. But then, when she is really uncertain what's around her, she will plant her front leg and push with her back. The front leg becomes her seeing eye cane. So she has the push concept down. And honestly Cora has proven everyone wrong so many times now that this seems like one more challenge for  us to take.

So, what do you all think. Jerry, do you have any words of wisdom? Anyone have cart experience out there? I can't rush into this because I will have to do fund raising again.