Loving dog owners Dwaine and Betty Kipling were beside themselves when their beloved 12 year-old Pug, named Sidney, was having trouble moving her back legs while she walked.
Due to a pinched nerve in her back, and old age, her back legs would mostly drag when she walked, causing her nails to become cut and bloody.
“First off we bought a stroller from the Salvation Army and turned it into a dog stroller. However, she wasn’t getting her exercise riding around in it,” said Dwaine Kipling.
It was while down in San Diego, California that the Kipling’s first heard of a “doggy wheelchair.”
“We found some for sale but they were around $400. So I went on eBay and found this design and decided to make one myself,” said Kipling.
Going back to the Salvation Army, Kipling was able to take the wheels off an old toy, and bought the pipe and fittings separately. The first prototype was a bit too narrow for Sidney’s physique, so it was back to construction.
“This is the new and improved version. She’s been in fights with it, she’s rolled it, she runs over your feet and loves every minute of it,” said Kipling, smiling at his old pet.
Trying to avoid too much loss of muscle mass in her back end, Kipling said they keep her out of the wheelchair while she’s at home or around the yard. It is when they go out for their routine walks that they put her in, to avoid her nails being drug on the ground.
“She’s pretty happy since we got her in it,” said Betty Kipling.
“When she gets in a flight though that’s a sight to see. Those wheels are almost smoking,” said Dwaine Kipling with a little laugh.
All Sidney’s life, he said, she’s felt as if she were ten feet tall.
“She’ll go after dogs twice her size or more, wheelchair or no wheelchair,” said Kipling.
The Kipling’s said they want to make Sidney’s final years as comfortable and enjoyable for her as possible.
To see Sidney in action, go to www.drumhellermail.com to see the video.
