Heeee...... ok, it's way past my bedtime but I have to share. So, long time Cora followers know that I did a fundraising drive and Cora got her cart. At first she just seemed to hate it and not get what was going on. It also seemed like it was hard to find the adjustments that worked best for her. Then, she figured it out and I discovered that the brain damage didn't just cause her to be blind, but it also gave her an insane sense of direction. The girl could not go in a straight line. And once she really got the hang of it, she was veering left and right and spinning in circles and I couldn't keep up. Oh, the horror. Heh. She tipped over and found that traumatic and for a while went back to hating it. We were slowly rebuilding her enthusiasm for the cart and I'd come up with a plan to keep her under control, but but it was hard on my back so we didn't do it often. I had to lift and pull and brake and drag and try and keep up with the wild and crazy girl. Then my back got really bad and just walking was a challenge for me so Cora wasn't getting much time out of the house/yard and certainly wasn't using her cart. I've recovered really well (better than expected) from the surgery. It's probably been 2 years since Cora has been in her wheels. I've been meaning to. Partly I haven't done it for fear it wouldn't work for my back or she'd be back to hating it.

So, today I decided to go for it. We started out awfully. It's been so long and after getting her in, I realized I couldn't see both velcro straps that go across her back. I took too long to figure it out and Cora came out and then tipped and got her leg tangled up and went into full panic, screaming mode. It took a bit (felt like forever) to sort out because (1) I was trying to hold her, sort her legs out and get her standing  and the strap on and three more arms would have been useful, and (2), when Cora is that freaked out she will bite and she was thinking about it. I got her straightened out and just held her. I was completely prepared to pull her out but wanted to give her some calm down time before messing with her.

She calmed down surprisingly fast and was then complete fine. Given she was so freaked out, neighbors came out to see why I was murdering my dog, I was surprised and pleased. And then we took a walk and it went pretty dang well!!!!!!!!!!!! A mature Cora doesnt drive like the complete maniac the young Cora did. And I had some straps secured to the cart so I could manage her. The biggest thing I needed to do, is the same thing that was an issue in the past. When she wants to sit down she sort of splays one of her back legs out to the side and it can actually get caught up on the cart. So, I helped her to sit and not sprawl. Other than that, the other biggest challenge was when we got in front of the house with the howling malumute. Cora find his howls and barks scary, which is understandable. She got tired fast and seeing her move around revealed some interesting things about her gait and such, but she did it. And....

She is home and so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She's bright and alert and has some of her high spirit back, that I hadnt realized was missing. Yippy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will share more later, including some pictures, but I must sleep or work will be really be msierable.