specially-abled dogs

Come Meet Sadie. 34th Recipient of a Dog Wheelchair from The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

sadieThis past summer at a fundraiser for a local horse sanctuary, I met this beautiful dog named Sadie.

I would learn that she came from Kentucky two years earlier where she had given birth to puppies and was then shot in the head and the back, and left for dead.

It’s a gut wrenching story and pulled hard at my heart strings. My mind not able to wrap itself around why someone would do this.

The shot to her back is what paralyzed her and the bullet is still lodged in her spine. To remove it is too dangerous. But the bullet from her head was successfully removed.

She can hobble around, but also is pulled around in a wagon type device when she tires.

I wanted to see if I could help and asked if the owner, Joal, had tried a wheelchair for her and I told her about Eddie’s Wheels. She shared with me that a wheelchair had been donated from another company, but Sadie wouldn’t even stand up in it.

Because it wasn’t a custom-fitted wheelchair that was donated at the time, I felt perhaps a custom wheelchair may help Sadie. I told Joal about The Frankie Wheelchair Fund and said I thought it was worth a try. She agreed and was grateful for the help.

Joal has given all the best care to Sadie and Sadie has a great vet and physical therapist that is helping her. She is taking slow to the wheelchair, but I hope in time, it will become second nature for her.

While most dogs that need a wheelchair take to it almost immediately, some need more time and help. Such is the case with Sadie. But we aren’t giving up hope.

As long as she is willing to try, and that seems to be the case, then I’m so glad she has a wonderful team of people doing all they can to hopefully get her rolling soon.

To learn more about Sadie and follow along with her story, you can visit her on her Facebook page.

***Wheelchair I recommend and work with for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund is Eddie’s Wheels.

Learn more about The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

You can learn more on our website, National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day where you can apply for funds or donate.

Mama… Tell Me the Story Just One More Time Please.

gidget apr 2014

My heart yearned for another dachshund with special needs to care for.

More love in this heart of mine to be shared.

Time for it to expand once again and take in more teachings from the short little dog they call wiener dog.

Then one day, after much searching,

there you were.

You seemed larger than life looking back at me from the big monitor on my computer,

Even though you were described as only weighing nine pounds.

It was your eyes. I fell deep into them. Into this blissful, knowing place, feeling as if I’d been here before.

It felt as if I was seeing my own soul reflecting back to me.

I wondered, Had we been together before?

Space and time stood absolutely still in that moment, as my heart rapidly beat in my chest, a familiar rhythm.

I knew. I knew without a doubt that you were the one.

My heart was electrified and I felt connected to you with every fiber of my being.

Your eyes spoke to me telling me that you were on your way home.

The final destination of your  journey right into my heart.

Welcome home, little one. Welcome home.

I was inspired to write this after posting the above photo on my Facebook wall this past week. When my mom saw it she thought Gidget’s eyes were telling me to tell her the story one more time of how she came to live with me. Thank you to my special mama for inspiring me!