walking

Who Cares What Others Think- Strollers for Paralyzed Pooches

Posted by Barbara Techel

Today on Facebook someone who has a paralyzed pooch was looking for advice on where to get a stroller for her dog.  Her dog was no longer enjoying his daily walks in his wheelchair, dragging his foot and causing it to bleed.

Years ago before Frankie was in a wheelchair she would walk over 2.5 miles a day with me. Those little legs sure got a workout!  After she ended up in her wheelchair six years ago she y would only go walking for about a mile. About two years ago she decided walks were no longer her “thing” so I invested in a dog stroller for her.  As far as I know from what I’ve seen, I’m the only one in our little town of 1,100 who walks their dog in a stroller. I’ve gotten a few strange looks from time to time. Though many times we get lots of smiles, giggles, and “awwwwww’s.”

I’ll admit I felt a little silly at first walking my dog in a stroller. I even worried what others would think of me. But then I remembered this was how I felt when I had to have Frankie fitted for her wheelchair and take her out in public for the first time. The great lesson I learned is that I know Frankie is happy whether in her stroller, her wheelchair, or riding in the basket on my bicycle… it’s all that matters…and who cares what others think?  If I would have dwelled on what others thought, look at all the fun I would have missed out on?  And all the moments of sweet joy with little Frankie.

If you are looking for a dog stroller, I personally love the Jeep stroller since it does not look too baby-ish.  I kinda like to think this is Frankie’s Jeep Cherokee and it is rather sporty.  V-rooom! Walking Frankie in her stroller is one of my simple pleasures and often I come up things I want to write about as I’m out walking with her.  Good for the mind, body and spirit!

 

A Winter’s Day Walk with God… and Kylie

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

It’s only in the teens today, but I was ready to get back out on my new daily walks with Kylie. The last few days have been frigid and awfully windy, so we didn’t get our walks in. It seemed to take me forever as I got my snow pants on, two shirts, one sweatshirt, jacket, headband, two sets of mittens, and finally my jacket. Kylie stood patiently by, her tail wagging, looking at me, then glancing out the door and back to me again. I said, “I’m putting my fur coat on Kylie- hang on- almost ready to go.”

Today the sun is bright in the sky making swirls of colors appear on the white crisp snow on our walk. I thought, wow, isn’t nature magnificient? How did God think all this up? I’m grateful He did. It is quiet when we walk on our path- well- at least it is for now. Our path leads around an athletic field, which is also wooded on the outskirts- but in spring, summer, and fall it is busy with baseball games and soccer.


As I took in the quiet and only the crunching of my boots in the snow and the occasional sniff of Kylie smelling deep into the snow, I took in the silence and the beauty around me. It made me think about choices I have made in my life. The choice I made years ago not to be in the corporate world any more- the choice to no longer work for my husband’s business where I worked in the office for many years- the choice I make to try and live simpler, so I can enjoy these daily walks with Kylie.

I remember working at Kohl’s Department Store many moons ago. A woman I worked with hated her job, but didn’t want to quit because she was coming up on four weeks vacation. It struck me odd, and more so now, that she would continue to be miserable everyday, just because she would lose out on four weeks of vacation if she quit. I realize we all have choices but it made me sad to think how unhappy she was 48 weeks out of every year to only be happy for four.

As I continued on my walk, I thanked God for my time with Kylie which I consider a little vacation each day. How often we store everything up inside us thinking we will relax and be happy when vacation comes, when we could have enjoyed a simple, small pleasure every day. And isn’t that what life is all about? And yes, vacations are good too. I do enjoy them- but I also like coming home again to my daily walks with God… and Kylie.

 

From my Yogi Tea bag:  “Nature is a giver, a true friend and a sustainer.”