dogs love to run in the freedom of wide-open spaces but not all dogs can
wide-open spaces but not all dogs can
wide-open spaces but not all dogs can run and some have a hard time even
run and some have a hard time even
run and some have a hard time even walking unfortunately one family has
walking unfortunately one family has
walking unfortunately one family has been in the business of making
been in the business of making
been in the business of making innovative custom wheelchairs for
innovative custom wheelchairs for
innovative custom wheelchairs for animals since 1999
animals since 1999
animals since 1999 Eddie’s Wheels is a nexus of new
Eddie’s Wheels is a nexus of new
Eddie’s Wheels is a nexus of new beginnings owned by Edie and Leslie
beginnings owned by Edie and Leslie
beginnings owned by Edie and Leslie Grinnell and their daughter Chris these
Grinnell and their daughter Chris these
Grinnell and their daughter Chris these are the caring hands that make mobility
are the caring hands that make mobility
are the caring hands that make mobility a reality again for disabled dogs and
a reality again for disabled dogs and
a reality again for disabled dogs and other animals so now you’ve seen the
other animals so now you’ve seen the
other animals so now you’ve seen the video and you know what we do and you
video and you know what we do and you
video and you know what we do and you might wonder what I’ve learned from the
might wonder what I’ve learned from the
might wonder what I’ve learned from the dogs and that might be summed up as
dogs and that might be summed up as
dogs and that might be summed up as follows we are here to care for each
follows we are here to care for each
follows we are here to care for each other emotionally and physically and
other emotionally and physically and
other emotionally and physically and that’s all there is to know the dogs who
that’s all there is to know the dogs who
that’s all there is to know the dogs who have chosen to become our companions
have chosen to become our companions
have chosen to become our companions know this they offer us unconditional
know this they offer us unconditional
know this they offer us unconditional love and we love them back yeah we love
love and we love them back yeah we love
love and we love them back yeah we love them back so I can’t remember my next
them back so I can’t remember my next
them back so I can’t remember my next line love them back
and he’s afraid of that we know the
and he’s afraid of that we know the tales of dogged devotion Lassie Rin
tales of dogged devotion Lassie Rin
tales of dogged devotion Lassie Rin Tintin Hadji but I have tales to tell
Tintin Hadji but I have tales to tell
Tintin Hadji but I have tales to tell you of humans whose devotion to a
you of humans whose devotion to a
you of humans whose devotion to a particular dog turns them into the
particular dog turns them into the
particular dog turns them into the caregiver willing to be their legs to
caregiver willing to be their legs to
caregiver willing to be their legs to carry them from place to place up and
carry them from place to place up and
carry them from place to place up and down stairs in and out to potty I’ve
down stairs in and out to potty I’ve
down stairs in and out to potty I’ve been doing this for 28 years and I can
been doing this for 28 years and I can
been doing this for 28 years and I can tell you that this is back-breaking work
tell you that this is back-breaking work
tell you that this is back-breaking work that’s where the canine wheelchair comes
that’s where the canine wheelchair comes
that’s where the canine wheelchair comes in like magic freeing both caregiver and
in like magic freeing both caregiver and
in like magic freeing both caregiver and the dog with freedom and mobility the
the dog with freedom and mobility the
the dog with freedom and mobility the wheelchair supports the dog and a
wheelchair supports the dog and a
wheelchair supports the dog and a healthy normal stance allowing the body
healthy normal stance allowing the body
healthy normal stance allowing the body to reveal its potential for movement all
to reveal its potential for movement all
to reveal its potential for movement all we have to do is watch as legs are
we have to do is watch as legs are
we have to do is watch as legs are activated by reflexes to move once again
activated by reflexes to move once again
activated by reflexes to move once again with the consistency provided by the
with the consistency provided by the
with the consistency provided by the cart and the opportunity for strength
cart and the opportunity for strength
cart and the opportunity for strength building through regular exercise a
building through regular exercise a
building through regular exercise a decent percentage of our clients will be
decent percentage of our clients will be
decent percentage of our clients will be walking dogs again I cared for Buddha 28
walking dogs again I cared for Buddha 28
walking dogs again I cared for Buddha 28 years ago when she woke up paralyzed
years ago when she woke up paralyzed
years ago when she woke up paralyzed she was my husband’s first wife on our
she was my husband’s first wife on our
she was my husband’s first wife on our first date she sat on my lap and let me
first date she sat on my lap and let me
first date she sat on my lap and let me know what my position was in the pecking
know what my position was in the pecking
know what my position was in the pecking order so when she woke up paralyzed I
order so when she woke up paralyzed I
order so when she woke up paralyzed I became her caregiver it was more like
became her caregiver it was more like
became her caregiver it was more like caring for an aging parent than caring
caring for an aging parent than caring
caring for an aging parent than caring for a child it was the grief that came
for a child it was the grief that came
for a child it was the grief that came from the loss of mobility and
from the loss of mobility and
from the loss of mobility and independence there was the shame of the
independence there was the shame of the
independence there was the shame of the potty accident there was the anxiety of
potty accident there was the anxiety of
potty accident there was the anxiety of having to rely on me to carry the 40
having to rely on me to carry the 40
having to rely on me to carry the 40 pounds of her back end up and down the
pounds of her back end up and down the
pounds of her back end up and down the stairs to get her in and out to go to
stairs to get her in and out to go to
stairs to get her in and out to go to the bathroom all of this changed when
the bathroom all of this changed when
the bathroom all of this changed when the wheelchair came into play supporting
the wheelchair came into play supporting
the wheelchair came into play supporting her in the wheelchair allowed us to go
her in the wheelchair allowed us to go
her in the wheelchair allowed us to go back into the woods again and we did
back into the woods again and we did
back into the woods again and we did every day two or three times a day
every day two or three times a day
every day two or three times a day and my role became how to carry Harry to
and my role became how to carry Harry to
and my role became how to carry Harry to lift her wheelchair over the rocks over
lift her wheelchair over the rocks over
lift her wheelchair over the rocks over the trees and pull her out of the mud
the trees and pull her out of the mud
the trees and pull her out of the mud when she went frog hunting overtime
when she went frog hunting overtime
when she went frog hunting overtime three months actually she went from
three months actually she went from
three months actually she went from being deep pain negative and dragging
being deep pain negative and dragging
being deep pain negative and dragging her feet to walking in her wheelchair
her feet to walking in her wheelchair
her feet to walking in her wheelchair and three months later she had enough
and three months later she had enough
and three months later she had enough strength in those legs to stand up and
strength in those legs to stand up and
strength in those legs to stand up and walk without the wheelchair unaided she
walk without the wheelchair unaided she
walk without the wheelchair unaided she lived another three and a half years and
lived another three and a half years and
lived another three and a half years and died at 13 and a half as a fully mobile
died at 13 and a half as a fully mobile
died at 13 and a half as a fully mobile dog I often tell my clients that all we
dog I often tell my clients that all we
dog I often tell my clients that all we do is support healing while the body
do is support healing while the body
do is support healing while the body takes whatever time it needs to heal but
takes whatever time it needs to heal but
takes whatever time it needs to heal but it’s not just physical healing that
it’s not just physical healing that
it’s not just physical healing that matters it’s not just physical support
matters it’s not just physical support
matters it’s not just physical support we exist in a synergistic energetic
we exist in a synergistic energetic
we exist in a synergistic energetic relationship with our dogs they look to
relationship with our dogs they look to
relationship with our dogs they look to us for approval and encouragement the
us for approval and encouragement the
us for approval and encouragement the first time we put them in a cart and
first time we put them in a cart and
first time we put them in a cart and they live in their abilities not their
they live in their abilities not their
they live in their abilities not their disabilities taking joy in the present
disabilities taking joy in the present
disabilities taking joy in the present of each moment and accepting themselves
of each moment and accepting themselves
of each moment and accepting themselves the way they are despite whatever
the way they are despite whatever
the way they are despite whatever brokenness or decrepitude a human might
brokenness or decrepitude a human might
brokenness or decrepitude a human might see in them
see in them
see in them this is particularly poignant for my
this is particularly poignant for my
this is particularly poignant for my clients who have canine ALS a
degenerative disease that starts with
degenerative disease that starts with toenails dragging and ends weeks months
toenails dragging and ends weeks months
toenails dragging and ends weeks months or years later in total quadriplegia
Baxter was a Sato dog who spent the last
Baxter was a Sato dog who spent the last six months of his life in a quad cart
this is the day he picked up his
this is the day he picked up his wheelchair and he wasn’t all that
wheelchair and he wasn’t all that
wheelchair and he wasn’t all that pleased about it but his caregiver told
pleased about it but his caregiver told
pleased about it but his caregiver told me that those last six months were the
me that those last six months were the
me that those last six months were the best six months of his life that
best six months of his life that
best six months of his life that wheelchair was a passport into a world
wheelchair was a passport into a world
wheelchair was a passport into a world that other dogs never got to go to he
that other dogs never got to go to he
that other dogs never got to go to he took a championship turnaround the
took a championship turnaround the
took a championship turnaround the Rangers hockey rink and he got to stroll
Rangers hockey rink and he got to stroll
Rangers hockey rink and he got to stroll through Tiffany’s his team of caregivers
through Tiffany’s his team of caregivers
through Tiffany’s his team of caregivers would take him on lovely walks and made
would take him on lovely walks and made
would take him on lovely walks and made sure that he got to the beach regularly
sure that he got to the beach regularly
sure that he got to the beach regularly last time I saw Baxter was at a pet expo
last time I saw Baxter was at a pet expo
last time I saw Baxter was at a pet expo in Boston his cart was by then totally
in Boston his cart was by then totally
in Boston his cart was by then totally blinged out with Hot Wheels hot hot rod
blinged out with Hot Wheels hot hot rod
blinged out with Hot Wheels hot hot rod wheels and he was wearing his Superdog
wheels and he was wearing his Superdog
wheels and he was wearing his Superdog cape and children came over to him and
cape and children came over to him and
cape and children came over to him and leaned into his face and he would lick
leaned into his face and he would lick
leaned into his face and he would lick their faces and I was just so moved and
their faces and I was just so moved and
their faces and I was just so moved and there his ability to let everyone know
there his ability to let everyone know
there his ability to let everyone know he was still here still engaged and
he was still here still engaged and
he was still here still engaged and still alive but I’d like you to meet the
still alive but I’d like you to meet the
still alive but I’d like you to meet the happiest part of my business the front
happiest part of my business the front
happiest part of my business the front wheel cart division this is Webster a
mere webby webby and his sister were
mere webby webby and his sister were born with no front legs as a result of
born with no front legs as a result of
born with no front legs as a result of inbreeding he came to live with us eight
inbreeding he came to live with us eight
inbreeding he came to live with us eight years ago and you can see that Webster
years ago and you can see that Webster
years ago and you can see that Webster left to his own devices can’t go very
left to his own devices can’t go very
left to his own devices can’t go very far his life in fact was limited to
far his life in fact was limited to
far his life in fact was limited to wherever there was padding because he
wherever there was padding because he
wherever there was padding because he can’t take more than a few steps without
can’t take more than a few steps without
can’t take more than a few steps without flopping on his chest but look what
flopping on his chest but look what
flopping on his chest but look what happens when we put him in a wheelchair
come on buddy when you get in you’re
come on buddy when you get in you’re quiet come on buddy get in your cart you
quiet come on buddy get in your cart you
quiet come on buddy get in your cart you need to you need to treat okay you need
need to you need to treat okay you need
need to you need to treat okay you need to be paid come on get in your cart he’s
to be paid come on get in your cart he’s
to be paid come on get in your cart he’s a very shy boy
good job so the court takes the place of
good job so the court takes the place of his front legs I can’t believe you’re
his front legs I can’t believe you’re
his front legs I can’t believe you’re turning too nervous to eat okay get
turning too nervous to eat okay get
turning too nervous to eat okay get yourself in there you go good job good
yourself in there you go good job good
yourself in there you go good job good job
he got this cart when he was six months
he got this cart when he was six months old having never taken a step like a
old having never taken a step like a
old having never taken a step like a normal standing dog good boy
it only took him a few hours to learn
it only took him a few hours to learn how to steer if you follow the treat you
how to steer if you follow the treat you
how to steer if you follow the treat you can learn how to deal with your bare
can learn how to deal with your bare
can learn how to deal with your bare legs can’t you there you go see he had
legs can’t you there you go see he had
legs can’t you there you go see he had never sat up before Webster
never sat up before Webster
never sat up before Webster maybe good boy
maybe good boy
maybe good boy we call him shortstop this proves that
we call him shortstop this proves that
we call him shortstop this proves that our body has instinctively that
our body has instinctively that
our body has instinctively that hardwiring that tells us what normal
hardwiring that tells us what normal
hardwiring that tells us what normal movement is this is what I learn over
movement is this is what I learn over
movement is this is what I learn over and over again from these dogs no matter
and over again from these dogs no matter
and over again from these dogs no matter how broken they are they find their
how broken they are they find their
how broken they are they find their abilities and they use them so Webster
abilities and they use them so Webster
abilities and they use them so Webster who is known in in a subspecies of dogs
who is known in in a subspecies of dogs
who is known in in a subspecies of dogs born with no front legs and who are very
born with no front legs and who are very
born with no front legs and who are very oftenly calm called Roo because they
oftenly calm called Roo because they
oftenly calm called Roo because they have amazing abilities for leaping has
have amazing abilities for leaping has
have amazing abilities for leaping has turned in to a true dog not a rude dog
turned in to a true dog not a rude dog
turned in to a true dog not a rude dog oh go get it ready another one
stage fright come over and show how used
stage fright come over and show how used to it
to it
to it show me you snitch pick it up this is
show me you snitch pick it up this is
show me you snitch pick it up this is not possible for a pug there are some
not possible for a pug there are some
not possible for a pug there are some things we cannot compensate for lack of
things we cannot compensate for lack of
things we cannot compensate for lack of neck and lack of nose being one of them
neck and lack of nose being one of them
neck and lack of nose being one of them so what is it that we’ve learned what
so what is it that we’ve learned what
so what is it that we’ve learned what body of knowledge the dogs have that you
body of knowledge the dogs have that you
body of knowledge the dogs have that you share with us they know love and support
share with us they know love and support
share with us they know love and support and that’s all we need to know thank you
and that’s all we need to know thank you
and that’s all we need to know thank you [Applause]
”
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