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Snatching the authorial rights for this particular blog entry from the paws of Crippled Monkey was quite a coup for Lady Bracknell, as the simian one is renowned for his reluctance to share when it comes to animal stories. Or, indeed, bananas.

, which describes itself as "a special place for disabled animals", is a sanctuary in Montana catering for, as you will have gathered by now, all manner of cripped up beasties. (Oh, OK, dogs, cats and horses. There's not actually anything on the site to indicate that they offer refuge to amputee spiders or amnesiac goldfish. But they probably would if someone asked them to.) Each of the resident animals has his or her own web page. There are too many to list here, but Lady Bracknell was particularly drawn to , the dog with the fused jaw (who sports a rather natty line in sweaters); , the invalid cat; and , the old mule.

Some of the animals are fit enough to be put up for adoption, which means that there's also a very touching page of stories. And, if you find yourself wanting to know more about the work which goes on at the ranch, you might want to visit their regularly.

Sadly, one dog who won't be going to Rolling Dog Ranch is Natasha, the Shar-Pei. Natasha, who was "small, old, blind and crippled" was shot by a neighbour of her owners for threatening the animals on his petting farm. Maybe she squinted at them in a menacing way. Or limped meaningfully in their general direction. History does not relate. But a judge in north east Ohio has ruled that Howard Goodall was in killing her.

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Ouch link: Our three-legged friends by Nuala Calvi.