When we picture a family, we often imagine something picture-perfect—loving parents, cheerful kids, and a playful, healthy pet curled up on the couch. But real families, the kind that teach us the most about love, don’t always follow a script.
Sometimes, pets are born differently. Sometimes they’re injured, abandoned, and then rescued, or grow older with changing needs. But none of that makes them any less whole. If anything, it makes them more remarkable. Because specially-abled pets are not defined by what they lack, but by the way they love, trust, and live fully despite it all.
4 Common Myths About Specially-Abled Pets—And the Truths That Set Them Free
Animals, especially those living on the streets or in shelters, are often misunderstood. When they’re also specially-abled, they face even more unfair assumptions. Setting the record straight, here are a few myths about specially-abled pets that deserve busting — because every pet deserves to be seen for their spirit, not their limitations.
1. Myth: Specially-abled pets can’t have a good quality of life:
Truth: Nothing could be further from the truth.
Animals are resilient beings. They find a way to enjoy and to celebrate their lives despite the odds against them. The only thing they require is a safe place to rest, nutritious food, and lots of love and compassion. Whether your pet has special needs or not, they’ll love you just the same. They’ll demand snuggles, bring chaos into your life and change it for the better – nothing can hold them back when they have your love.
2. Myth: Specially-abled pets have a lot of medical problems:
Truth: Special needs do not mean illness.
Not all disabilities come with additional health issues. A dog born blind or cat born deaf can still have healthy bodies. All they need is to be well looked after and to be given love, and premium, high-protein nutrition. The most that they may need from you is to keep to the vet-mandated check-ups.
3. Myth: Behavioural issues are common in specially-abled pets:
Truth: Behavioural issues do not stem from having special needs
Aggression and violence against any animal, a lack of safety, and hunger do cause cats and dogs to develop behavioural issues. Some pets that have behavioural issues could also be experiencing anxiety. Stories of rescued specially-abled pets all describe dogs and cats as being extremely friendly and loving despite the difficulties they’ve faced. All you need to do is love them, and you’ll see the magic unfold!
4. Myth: It’s more difficult to care for specially-abled pets:
Truth: They’re not harder. They’re just different.
Some may need help with mobility or toileting, especially if they’re paralyzed. But many simply need what all pets need—love, patience, and a little understanding. What they give back in return is immeasurable.
What causes disabilities in pets?
Born different, but not broken
Some pets can be born with disabilities, e.g. blindness, deafness. They don’t need much extra care, they only need to be in safe spaces that protect them from traffic and threats that they cannot protect themselves against.
Ageing like wine
Like with humans, a pet’s health can deteriorate with age. Some of them can affect sight, hearing, or mobility. While this can’t be completely avoided, providing your pet cat or dog with healthy, well-balanced cat food or dog food, enough water, and ample exercise can delay or avoid the onset of common issues like arthritis, obesity and other nutrition-related issues.
Carniwel’s wide range of cat food and dog food provides the nutrition your pet requires, based on their size and life stage. Using premium ingredients, fresh and delicious proteins and fiber to aid digestion, our food is a great choice for pet parents who want to give their pet the best of nutrition at irresistible prices.
Accidents
Community animals and abandoned pets are at a risk of being hurt either by vehicles, humans or other animals. These injuries can result in disabilities. Deep wounds, if left untreated, could also attract maggots that can compromise the dog’s or the cat’s physical and mental health. It is in this circumstance that dogs and cats require additional help. Injuries and abandonment can cause multiple health issues to develop. Here are a few NGOs and communities that help cats and dogs in need of care. They also work at giving these fur-babies a safe environment to live in:
- Care
- VOSD
- Voice for the voiceless
- JV Rehabilitation Centre
- Adoptions for Hyderabad
- Angelic
- Wholetthepawsout
Every Pet Deserves a Life Full of Love
A missing limb doesn’t stop a dog from running. A blind cat still purrs, plays, and finds her way back to you—every time. Their resilience is quiet, powerful, and deeply moving. These animals don’t ask for perfection. They ask for kindness, stability, and a chance to be part of a family. When you care for a specially-abled pet, you're not doing them a favour—they’re offering you a deeper understanding of love, patience, and joy.
In the End...
Disability doesn’t make a pet less lovable. It makes their love shine even brighter. So, let’s honour their resilience—with full hearts, safe homes, and meals that nourish them from the inside out. At Carniwel, we believe that every pet—no matter how they walk, see, or hear—deserves to be fed with love and treated with dignity. Every pet deserves to be celebrated!