Tripawds

How would you imagine life as a dog who lost a limb?  

I’ve asked this question to many people and about 70% respond with “sad” or some variation. This response applies regardless of whether someone likes dogs or whether one has spent time with dogs. 

This response however is rarely given if you ask a veterinarian or an owner of a dog with an amputated limb, where the majority respond that life would be “happy”.   

According to the experts, “tripawds”, as these dogs are lovingly known, quickly adjust to the loss of a limb and don’t at all experience the psychological distress that humans might presume.  Yet, even when I share this data, people continue to believe, and even insist, that there must be suffering and sadness. 

At times, empathy can be misplaced and this often occurs when we try to imagine ourselves in the position of another. This imagining is different from the act of bearing witness to the experience of another. When we bear witness, we approach another’s situation from a place of “not knowing,” free of preconceptions and judgment, with intent to simply take in the experience fully. 

Misplaced empathy can rob well-meaning executives and companies from developing impactful programs, projects, and products. So, next time you are asked to imagine the experience of another, what will you say?