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Each year, the Walkin’ Pets Calendar Contest helps raise awareness for animals with special needs and raise funds to help animals in need. This year’s competition brought together nearly 300 animals with special needs from around the world.
Hong Kong Dog Bo Blanket
Our cover dog Bo is a degenerative myelopathy warrior from Hong Kong. He has been fighting DM for over 2.5 years! He may be paralyzed from the chest down, but he’s still enjoying life thanks to his four-wheeled wheelchair!
Filou from France
Filou is an 8-year-old “big giant” Yorkie who became paralyzed at the age of 1 following an accident. His former owner then took him to a shelter, where he was adopted in 2016.
Today, Filou is very happy and crazy about life and lives with his mother and his three dog sisters, Skully, Pepper and Jade.
illinois holly
Holly was found in someone’s garden, unable to walk, just two months old. She was later diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia, aka wobbling cat syndrome. The clinic tried for four months to find a shelter that would take her or an adopter for her. Finally, a clinic staff member shared Holly Hun’s story in a Facebook group where her new mom fell in love! Holly can’t stand or walk, but that doesn’t stop her from living her life to the fullest.
Holly got her wheels about a year ago. His full support cart has changed his life giving him the ability to get up off the ground and enjoy cruising like his feline siblings. Holly is excited when her trolley is brought out. Her Walkin’ Wheels cart brought a new level of fun to her life; For that, his family will be eternally grateful!
Bay Lee from Texas
Bay Lee has always been an incredibly active dog. She started having trouble walking and was diagnosed with IVDD. Once she got her Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair, she was unstoppable from the first moment! She had back surgery in February. After the operation, Bay Lee had retained motor function in both of her hind limbs, but needed support. Two weeks after the operation, Bay could walk…with help…and very little joint.
Now eight months after the operation. Bay Lee has come a long way and her prognosis remains positive. She has bad days and she has good days. On bad days, she is stiff and has difficulty walking. She sits down and her right rear leg flies out. When she relieves herself, the leg hits the ground uncontrollably. Part of that is arthritis…and part of it is IVDD because she still has multiple disc protrusions in her spine. On big days, she is able to walk quite normally using her Walkin’ Wheels and is energetic herself.
Best friends Rio and Alfie from England
Both Rio and Alfie were diagnosed with Stage 5 IVDD in 2021, which crippled them both. Not knowing each other before, Rio and Alfie bonded by sharing tips, tricks and lots of support through their toughest times. Almost a year later, these IVDD warriors are living their best lives, visiting their favorite place, the beach, and making lots of great friends along the way!
Antonia from Germany
Antonia was an agile and athletic German Shepherd who enjoyed swimming in the sea or lake. Before a series of health problems, Antonia was going to be trained as a rescue dog for the German Red Cross.
As she got older, she developed hip problems and two vestibular syndromes that left her unable to walk on her own. Her wheelchair allowed Antonia to be in the middle of everything, to spend time with her family and to take long walks. With the support of her wheelchair, she was able to lead a happy and active life.
Donnie from Arizona
Donnie, a Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, was diagnosed with DM when he was 8 years old. His family was devastated when degenerative myelopathy took away the use of his hind legs. Her Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair made all the difference. “The wheels helped Donnie walk better and it was easier to take care of him. Donnie loved playing with his tennis ball and the wheels helped Donnie do it again! For another 8 months, Donnie was able to live a life closer to the one he had before DM. Using the Walkin’ Wheels Donnie got the chance to walk with us and play in the snow for the first time too! And best of all, he was able to get comfortable again while using the bathroom outside. Her wheels have given her so much more time, independence and happiness.
After battling DM for nearly two years, Donnie crossed the Rainbow Bridge in September 2022.
mily from florida
Mily was born in 2005 on the streets in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She had many health problems over the years, including seizures, cancer, and loss of mobility as she got older. Her adoptive mother told Mily she would never be alone again and promised that they would always be together. Mily’s mother promised to be faithful in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, and therefore to love and respect her every day of Mily’s life.
Duke of Lincoln, UK
Duke became paralyzed very suddenly in January 2022 due to an IVDD. As soon as Duke was put in his wheels, he got into it right away. He ran into them the first time he wore them. That’s when his family knew we had made the right decision for him. He loves his Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair and has an indoor scooter too!
Duke’s family say: “Wheels have totally transformed his quality of life, he loves getting out and riding in them, he puts a smile on everyone’s face when he’s out and gets a lot of attention from people who like to pull over, fuss with him and ask about his wheels. It’s surprising to hear a lot of families who have pets who would benefit from wheels for all sorts of reasons.
Eli from Alabama
Eli is a Boykin Spaniel who overcame swimmer’s syndrome as a baby. Seven years later, Eli suffered a stroke overnight and lost the use of his hind legs. After three weeks in the hospital, Eli received his first Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair and has never looked back!
Now almost 11 years old, Eli is here to help, inspire and give hope to people and animals around the world. If you can’t do it one way, do it another. Eli wants the world to know that the difference is just the next adventure. Never give up! He wakes up with a smile and is ready for a great adventure every day. He lives his life to the fullest and does ALL the things his 4 siblings do.
Rita from Plymouth, UK
Rescued from Romania, Rita had been hit by a car and suffered spinal injuries. Later, Rita returned to veterinary care after further injuries from dragging herself. Sirius Animal Rescue and Miracle’s Mission both played their part in Rita’s happy new life. She is now settled in her forever home and loves to walk around in her wheelchair.
Rita helps promote awareness of animals with disabilities as an ambassador for At Peppa’swhich is a UK based charity that lends wheelchairs to other disabled dogs, Rita helped raise funds and we now have over 60 wheelchairs to help others.
kardi from texas
This is the sixth time Kardi has been featured on the Walkin’ Pets calendar! Kardi was an amazing little girl whose smile lit up the world. Kardi became paralyzed from IVDD in January 2015 and received her Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair the following month. She loved running around and playing with all her toys and was the happiest little dog despite her disability. Kardi was a therapy dog for several years and brought happiness to all who met her. Heartbreakingly, Kardi crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 2/20/2022 and is incredibly missed by so many.
New Zealand Ferg
At 10.5 months, Ferg began having unexplained mobility issues. At 14 months, he had lost the ability to stand or walk. Now, with his wheelchair, he can play outside independently and gets into all sorts of mischief. Ferg is living proof that having a disability shouldn’t hold you back, and he’s proven the vets who suggested euthanasia was the best option for him wrong.
Ferg lives life at full speed! He loves to go fast in his cart and even drifts around bends! His parents say, “Buying his Walkin Wheels wheelchair was the best decision we’ve ever made. Without his Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair, Ferg wouldn’t be here.
Pumpkin, the hero of pets 2023
Pumpkin wasn’t born crippled; her spine was shattered, leaving her paralyzed from the shoulders back. Adopted at 8 weeks old, her new family fell in love with her.
Inspired by the spirit of Pumpkin, her family created Pumpkin and Friends Charity, whose mission is to raise awareness of the special needs of pets, advocate, fundraise and donate wheelchairs to families in need. Pumpkin has already helped over 30 disabled dogs in just a few months! Pumpkin’s family works 24/7, advocating for these beautiful animals, showing the world how amazing animals with special needs are!
2023 Rescue of the Year: SFT Animal Sanctuary
Located in Tangier, Morocco, SFT currently houses over 450 dogs, including 25 wheelchair dogs. Among their roller dogs is their mascot, Lucky Puppy. Lucky Puppy loves life and is the fastest dog on wheels in the sanctuary! She is an example for all of us to follow. Pure joy, wickedness, playfulness and cheekiness. The sanctuary works tirelessly to save lives, change attitudes, teach love and compassion, and help their community. Since its creation in 2012, the sanctuary has helped treat, vaccinate and sterilize 3,200 stray animals in Tangier.
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