I think dogs are amazing.  Sometimes an animal (or a person) has to deal with a lot more than seems fair, but they handle it with a grace and resilience that goes beyond surviving and into thriving.  I am honored to share these photos that Dana Cubbage sent of pawsitively amazing Kiya.From Dana: Kiya is a beautiful 9 year old German Shepherd who was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy a few years ago. This is a progressive disease of the spinal cord which generally leads to the paralysis of the hind limbs. Upon diagnosis, Kiya’s owners bought her a cart and she picked it up right away!

This girl is one smart cookie. She shares her home with three other German Shepherds and Kiya’s condition doesn’t seem to phase her. She runs with them and plays with them, as if her legs were working just fine. I photographed her, along with 3 other disabled dogs, for a cover story called “Spirit Unbroken” for the local dog publication called Lowcountry Dog Magazine. Kiya’s image was chosen for the cover and I just LOVED working with her.

The bond between Kiya and her owners was just simply beautiful to watch, and her bond with the other dogs in the pack was equally beautiful. It made me realize just how resilient these dogs really are and that no matter what life throws at them, they live life to the fullest.

You can see more of the amazing Kiya on Dana’s blog.

About Dana Cubbage Photography:  Dana is a professional pet photographer specializing in modern lifestyle pet photography taken on-location in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Dana is a member of HeARTs Speak, a non-profit organization that connects artists and rescues to promote pet adoption.