It’s certainly not easy for pets who have a disability–they need more support and care than usual. However, some people choose to abandon their pets rather than provide that extra love.
People who go above and beyond to help those in need are always appreciated. They’re more than willing to put in the extra effort like this one boy did to change a dog’s life using his creativity.
Gracie, a dog, had disruptions early in her life. She was carelessly left by her prior owner and found infested with maggots and balding below her eyes. Also, due to a birth abnormality, Gracie is missing two legs in the front.
Gracie was lucky to be brought to Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue, given everything she had been through. Despite the odds, Gracie found a home with Tammy Turley and her family. They provided Gracie with a second chance that many people wouldn’t have thought twice about giving her.
“Some people were telling me that a dog like her should be put to sleep because of her condition, but now everyone has met her and they see how happy she is,” said Tammy.
Gracie doesn’t let her disabilities stop her from living life to the fullest and she has two dog siblings who are also disabled. One of Gracie’s siblings is missing a leg and the other is paralyzed in his hind legs, but that doesn’t stop them from playfully running around together.
Gracie isn’t the only animal in her family–she has two dog siblings. One of them is a three-legged dog, and the other can’t move his back legs.
Despite being born without her front legs, Gracie is a happy and energetic dog who gets around by hopping on her hind legs.
Tammy was worried Gracie might hurt herself with the old method, so she sought out a more comfortable way for her to get around.
Although she looked into it, she decided against getting a wheelchair since Gracie was only a puppy and would quickly outgrow the fit. But what if there was an affordable way to get one that could easily be customized?
Tammy asked Dylan, a 12-year-old boy whose mother worked at the shelter, to build a chair out of his LEGO sets for the dog.
He succeeded in building a wheelchair out of plastic toy bricks that were both colorful and functional. “He put a lot of thought into it and made sure we could velcro her in securely.”
Gracie quickly outgrew her first chair, so he built her a new one. He was able to build three custom models in all.
Gracie has now outgrown her special LEGO wheels, but she’ll never forget the boy who made them for her.
Gracie’s owner never gave up on her, even when she was facing difficult challenges. By continuing to support Gracie, they allowed her to run and play with all the other dogs. This story is a testament to how SPECIAL NEEDS DOGS ONLY need a helping hand – not an abandonment.
“ Special needs animals are just like any other animal, they too deserve to have a loving home,” Tammy emphatically stated. “I don’t want people to feel sorry for her because she’s different, I want them to enjoy her company .”
Gracie has fought hard and we’re glad to see her finally enjoying life! Thank you to everyone who contributed in some way to help make this happen for her.