Dog on wheels?

[mrs.chappie]

I sometimes see a lady walking her dog near to where I live. The dog has lost the use of his back legs and has a contraption fitted to keep him mobile - two wheels strapped to his back end.

As an animal lover, each time I see this lady and dog I get mixed emotions .... happy that the lady has pulled out all the stops to keep the dog alive, but very sad that he can't run and chase balls and do the things other dogs do.

Please could I have your thoughts on this? Do you think it is an act of kindness towards the dog?

[craft1948]

mrs.c if you see me in a wheelchair please don't have me put down.

[welshlibranr]

No I don't! it's all about the owner not being able to let the poor dog go with dignity!........I hate to see it!......poor thing is on miserable, borrowed time!....all to keep the owner secure!..........I would never do it!.........

[mrs.chappie]

There lies the huge difference, craft .... you can actually tell us what you want.

[NazNomad]

Hmmm, tricky one.

A three-legged dog can function perfectly well. Shouldn't a 2-legged one that isn't actually ill not be afforded the luxury of life?

It's mobile, it can go for walks ...


I see your dilemma but I'd say if it's otherwise healthy, good on her for making the effort (if only for her own selfish reasons). I'd say it still has some 'quality of life', so yeah, why not.

[slinkycat]

Difficult one, but animals probably adapt a lot better than people, if the dog has a good quality of life, and is otherwise healthy, then why not?
My friends cat had a front leg amputated after a road accident, he adapted almost immediately and went on to live a happy life for many years.

[craft1948]

I think the lady, and the vet, will know if the dog's not happy.

[welshlibranr]

True Mrs C, but dogs love to run,chase a ball, etc, on one of those wheeled things they cannot do much, must be so frustrating for them!.......not natural!|................sorry, I hate to see it!...........

[ttfn]

I believe these first started in America - K9 carts.
I agree with you mrs.c - i tend to see this sort of thing as prolonging the inevitable. I like to see pets with a natural dignity, enjoying their lives as best they can according to their age.

[NazNomad]

As Crafty mentioned, what about wheelchair users?

Those paralympic competitors ... put 'em all down?

[Buenchico]

Go across to the lady and make a fuss of the dog. I'm almost certain that you'll be greeted by a wagging tail and a dog who is clearly happy to be be out meeting new people and sniffing all of his favourite smells.

If that's the case, he's clearly still enjoying life.

Chris

[mrs.chappie]

I've only ever seen this one person and the dog on wheels. This must be quite a new concept, yes?

[Jan1957]

I think it's lovely and I would do the same. I lived with my Aunt whose dog went blind and he still loved to run around in the garden. She had to make sure never to move the furniture and he did run out of the back door and straight into the fish pond a couple of times till he remembered it was there but all in all he carried on playing and running.

[mrs.chappie]

Question for cat lovers .... if you could save your cat by getting him wheels, would you do it?

[Buenchico]

It's not a particularly new idea!
http://www.semibad.co...ent/dog_on_wheels.png

[NazNomad]

"This must be quite a new concept, yes?"

Heck no ... people have been doing this as long as I can remember (although that timeline varies substantially from one day to the next, lol)

[mrs.chappie]

Good Lord Chris, is that a sausage dog I see?

[NazNomad]

meals on wheels then?

[ttfn]

Not a new concept really. A friend of mine had one shipped over from the USA years ago for his old dog, but the order took a while and the poor dog died without ever trying the thing out :o(

[Buenchico]

If the cat still seemed to be happy, I might consider wheels:
http://www.inspiratio...om/images/Eddie6a.jpg

[welshlibranr]

sorry Chris, but we have a couple of examples in my area, and they are struggling!......not waggy tailed and happy to see other dogs!.....very nervous and scared!....so aggressive as a result!...........very sad for them!...but, dogs should never be on wheels!...........They should be running and jumping!...........When the time comes, we need to realise it, painful as it is!..............