Rolling with Sasha

Meet Sasha……
Sasha is an older dog who has a problem called CDRM. The nerves in her spine are degenerating, making her lose control of her back legs gradually. She can’t be entirely sure where her feet are, which makes walking difficult, and her legs aren’t strong like they used to be.
Sasha needs help to walk; but if you watch her, we reckon you’ll agree she most certainly wants to go walks. For the last three months though, she’s only managed short distances, until her front legs too began to get weaker and her fitness really suffered. She’s neither a lap dog nor a lightweight (she’s not fat, but you can’t just tuck her under your arm…) so what to do?
Solution: a dog wheelchair/ mobility cart/ assistive device- call it what you like, we just know it as Sasha’s wheels. In her wheels, it’s a different story for Sasha. The lead’s not for show- Sasha can move faster than her owner now, and she is determined to get to the park. She’s building her fitness back up and heading back on her old walks. No one’s making her though; it’s more a question of getting her to pace herself (dog owners out there, you know this is not a common canine skill!)

Sasha won’t be with us for ever. Her problem is progressive, and it will eventually affect more than just her legs. At that stage, we will be bidding her a sad farewell. The thing is, that without her wheels, that would have already happened. Yes, we are extending Sasha’s life. The important thing is this: we are giving her not just time, but time when we’re sure she is happy. Dog carts don’t suit every individual for sure. However, we reckon Sasha’s wheels suit her just fine.
Did you make a judgement when you first saw her photo? A lot of people do. Sasha’s problem is non-painful. We think the best way to decide whether Sasha is happy or not is to meet her. If you see her out on a walk, please say hello and chat to her owner about how she’s doing, because a lot of people stare, but hardly anyone stops and asks.