National Pet Month

Image of a man in a scooter with a dog next to him on a bridge outside on a trail.

April is National Pet Month! Pets have become a part of our family and culture for years. From fur-babies, fur families, grand-puppies, feline-friendships, snake-sisters, bunny brothers, house hamsters and everything in between. Emotional and support animals have been crucial in the disability community and a great addition to most families.

What is National Pet Month?

National Pet Month is back, and it is even better than ever, attracting thousands of animal lovers to celebrate the value of pet ownership. Every year National Pet Month brings together animal welfare charities, professional bodies, businesses, and schools to promote good pet ownership, raise funds for good causes and to have fun!

Emotional vs Service Animals

A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Tasks performed can include, among other things, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, alerting a person to a sound, reminding a person to take medication, or pressing an elevator button.

Emotional support animals are considered pets instead of service animals under the new rules that went into effect on December 2020. The federal government gave its final approval on a set of rules that clamp down on the types of service animals allowed on U.S. flights, reserving the designation for dogs and freeing airlines from having to accommodate a variety of emotional support animals. This decision was currently under intense debate at the posting of this blog.

Remembering Taz and Tweety

As a child, I had the privilege of caring for many pets, from rabbits (Fluffy, Snow and Night), to my beloved chihuahua (Muffin) and even a stray cat who I just called Kitty. They taught me a lot about responsibility and emotional intelligence, long before it was called that.

woman in a red scooter next to her horse.

As a young adult and active student, I didn’t think that I could properly care for pets. Shortly after I moved into my first place, there was a random break-in that shook me at my core. The interior decorator that I was working with offered to earmark a puppy from her Chow litter. Three months later, I brought home my new best friend. His name was Taz and he was just a black ball of fur that I took everywhere with me until he got too big to hide. He was an incredible partner and protector.

A year later, I brought home Tweety, a beautiful Sun Conure bird who had an incredible command of the English language. They didn’t get along at first but later looked forward to being in each other’s company. Ironically, our first child was allergic to most animals with fur, dander and the mucous that causes him to flare up.

Nevertheless, we had a hamster named Nugget and two goldfish named Darwin and Prince. They kept our kids happy. We visit the zoo and other pet families as safely as we can because we believe that, every boy needs a dog or pet as a rite-of-passage!

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Published by Pride Mobility

Welcome to Pride Mobility! We are a leading manufacturer of mobility products, including power chairs, scooters, lift chairs, and more. Our goal is to help people with mobility challenges live their best lives by providing innovative, high-quality, and reliable products that enhance their independence and comfort. Our company was founded in 1986 with a mission to improve the quality of life for people with mobility limitations. Since then, we have grown to become a global leader in the industry, with a wide range of products designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with varying levels of mobility. At Pride Mobility, we are committed to delivering exceptional customer service and support. Our team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals is dedicated to helping our customers find the right products to meet their specific needs, and we are always here to answer any questions or concerns. We take pride in our products and stand behind them with a comprehensive warranty and service program. Whether you are looking for a power chair to help you navigate your home or a scooter to explore the outdoors, you can trust Pride Mobility to provide the quality, comfort, and reliability you deserve. Thank you for choosing Pride Mobility as your partner in mobility. We look forward to helping you live your best life!

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