Dear Peppermint;

Possibly, you could get a dog on your own and train yourself. When I first had my accident I spent almost two years in a wheelchair. Our dog was killed in the accident. My parents bought us a new puppy, she was so healing to our lives. I had her housebroke in two days on my own. Then a few months later the kids talked me into a rescue dog, lab/counhound, again I trained both of these dogs out of a wheelchair. Maybe this would be something for you to consider and look at the gratification and end result that Daililyfan has shared and accomplished. I fought my way out of a wheelchair many times, as I sustained severe open fractures to both of my feet. But I never accepted living my life in a wheelchair, even though I was told early on, my prognosis was scary. I began to crawl, I crawled all over the house with knee pads, but I got where I wanted to go and was able to do things for myself. Even most recently, sustained another total arthrodesis/fusion and nerve surgery. I came home in a wheelchair, but, again I started to crawl with both of my feet lifted in the air behind me. The pain was horrible, everything hurt, both arms and shoulders flared up, I was a flipping mess. But three months later, I am walking, slow, but I am walking. Don't give up, just challenge yourself in little ways each day. Get some knowledge about training a dog for special needs, go find the perfect dog for you and give it a shot, you have nothing to lose, if all else fails you will have a great companion. My dogs are not trained for special needs, they are older now, but they have this incredible sixth sense about them and somehow always manage to comfort me and have gotten me through some really difficult days. God Bless you Peppermint, don't let your limitations get in the way of your dreams and never accept or give up on walking again!

Jeanie