Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Tripawds community member Carolyn Banes and her dog Ari would like everyone to consider signing a Change.org petition. The purpose: to allow Tripawds in AKC Rally and Obedience competitions.
Caroly and Ari, along with Lark Shlimbaum (whose three-legged dog Rascal made a big slash as the first Tripawd to compete in AKC Agility) started the petition (see below for link).
We at Tripawds feel that if an amputee dog is cleared by their veterinarian and rehabilitation therapy team to participate in dog sports such as Agility, Rally, and Obedience, and their human is educated on the physical needs of their amputee dog, there is no reason they should be banned from doing so.
Please sign Ari and Rascal's Petition to Allow Tripawds in AKC Rally and Obedience Competition
(Here is a summary of the movement, as explained by Carolyn and Lark)
The purpose of this Petition is the allow Tripods to compete virtual and in person AKC Rally & Obedience. Presently AKC only allows Tripawds to do Virtual Beginner Obedience & Beginner Obedience. AKC does not allow in person competition.
Tripawds can compete in AKC Tracking, Scent Work. Approximately 1 year ago AKC opened up Agility to three legged dogs. Shortly after they also allowed "Fast Cat" Tripawds to compete in person with no restrictions. Still to date, after many letters, phone calls, emails, etc. from Tripawd owners, veterinarians, Rally Judges and owners of 4 legged dogs requesting that AKC open up entries for Tripawds to compete in Rally/Obedience, AKC will not consider it!
Please sign this petition. It will be presented to AKC requesting that they open up Rally & Obedience to our beloved able bodied Tripawds. We would like them to be able to compete in person in these non-taxing events!
Please follow the link above to sign the petition. Watch the above video of Ari's AKC Excellent Course at training this past week. This course is very Advanced and you will see that Ari make it look easy!
Thank you
Lark Shlimbaum/Rascal Carolyn Baynes/Ari
UPDATE!!! Great progress! (Apologies if this is old news here, but didn't see it on quick search.) AKC's approved an "18-month pilot program" for tripods to compete in non-jumping rally and obedience.
(Still unclear why dogs can leap about in agility but not the far more controlled obedience, but definite progress.)
So everyone with sport tripods, let's make this pilot way too great a success for them to be able to do anything but expand access the rest of the way.
Thank you to Lark Shlimbaum and Carolyn Baynes for all your efforts.
From http://www.akc......s-updates/
May 2023
Pilot Program for Three-Legged (Tripod) Dogs in Non-Jumping Rally and Obedience Classes
An 18-month pilot program, allowing tripod dogs to participate in the non-jumping obedience and rally classes, was approved by the AKC Board of Directors, beginning July 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2024. The sport specific regulation language in Chapter 1, Section 17 will be amended to read: Dogs disfigured as the result of accident, injury, or illness are eligible to compete provided the disfigurement does not interfere with functional movement. A dog that shows no signs of physical discomfort is to be considered fit to compete. The judge must excuse a dog as “unfit to compete” if the dog demonstrates sickness, discomfort, or pain while performing.
Here is the link to the regulation insert: http://images.a.....17_WEB.pdf
The relevent excerpts from the linked regulation pdf:
NOTICE OF 18-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM
Rally Regulations
Effective July 1, 2023
18-month Tripod Dog Fit to Compete Pilot Program
Approved by the AKC Board of Directors
May 5, 2023
CHAPTER 1 – RALLY REGULATIONS
GENERAL REGULATIONS
Section 12. Dogs Eligible to Compete. As used in these regulations, the word
“dog” refers to either sex but only to dogs that are eligible for entry in AKC
events. Dogs with a PAL (Purebred Alternative Listing), or AKC Canine Partners
number must be spayed or neutered in order to compete. A dog that is deaf may
compete in any rally trial. Tripod dogs may compete in classes that do not require
the dog to jump.
Section 17. Disqualification, Ineligibility, Excusal, and Change in Appearance of Dogs. ...
Dogs disfigured as the result of accident, injury, or illness are eligible to
compete provided the disfigurement does not interfere with functional movement.
A dog that shows no signs of physical discomfort is to be considered fit to
compete. The judge must excuse a dog as “unfit to compete” if the dog
demonstrates sickness, discomfort, or pain while performing.
The Obedience update is the same -
Online
DEFINITELY PROGRESS!!! Thank you and all involved for staying the course and doing whatecer ot takes ro make this happen! You carried the banner for all Tripawds proudly.
And extra treats for Ari and Rascal for showing the world the power of veing a Tripawd!!
Thank you for the updste. Onward and upward!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Well that's fantastic news! Thanks for all your hard work.
Now if they could only stop using the archaic and inappropriate words "disfigured" and "disfigurement" 😣!
This is awesome news. Thank you for all your hard work
Michelle & Angels Sassy, Bosch, Baby Simba & Sweet Snickers
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
jerry said
...
Now if they could only stop using the archaic and inappropriate words "disfigured" and "disfigurement" 😣!
I like how the Barn Hunt rules address it:
4. Dogs with missing or partial limbs. "Dogs missing a limb or with a short withered limb are not automatically to
be considered lame and are eligible to compete as long as they can negotiate the course safely and without showing
signs of pain. Dogs must be sound on the number of limbs they have which are capable of being used. ..."
Much more polite!
(My theory is that the rally/obedience rulemakers were just jealous of how well rear amputees can pivot)
LOL! Yes agree 100% about rear leggers!
And that Barn Hunt copy is a much nicer way to describe an amputee dog doing those types of activities. That old-school way of using words like 'deformed' and 'disfigured' carries into how people describe humans with limb difference and that is definitely not cool.
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