Thursday February 2, 2006 my riding partner Brandy lost the use of her back legs.

Because Brandy was not in any pain or other obvious discomfort and she still liked to eat a dinner dish full of dog food, I wasn't ready to put her down.  She was alert and watched (and "talked" to) the TV.

I had heard of dog wheelchairs a couple of years ago so I looked on the internet and found several manufacturers with various designs. Although the wheelchairs that I found were very good, they were also very expensive. I didn't have $400.00 to $500.00 to spare so I thought that maybe I could make something that would work.

After I compared the various wheelchairs, I came up with a design that I could make and Thursday (2-9-06) I started looking for the parts I needed. I stopped at a few different stores, asked questions and I ended up getting the 1" square aluminum tubing at a nearby metal wholesaler, a bicycle shop gave me a very good deal for the wheels because they didn't match and the bolts, nuts and neck strap at a lumberyard. I had the wide strapping from a previous project. These parts ended up costing me about $110.00 (a small price to pay to help my best friend).

Friday afternoon I picked up the last of the parts I needed and started construction. Saturday evening about 7:00 I finished the wheelchair.

While I was making the wheelchair, when I needed to make a measurement I told Brandy that I was making this for her and she would be able to walk again.

The first time I put Brandy in her wheelchair, I put her in the saddle, lifted her back end and hooked the saddle onto the frame, she was so eager to go that I had to hold her back until I could get the rest of the straps in place.

Every day we walked about a quarter of a mile to the end of my driveway and back to get the newspaper then we turn around and do it again. Most days Brandy wants to carry the newspaper back for me. In the afternoon we take another walk to the end of the drive, watch the cars go by for a while then walk back home.

From February 11, 2006 to April 2, 2006 when she died we walked with the wheelchair close to 30 miles.

Brandy waiting for her new
wheelchair.

The wheelchair.

This the saddle Brandy
sat on.

This is the first time Brandy was in her chair.

Top view

The first time Brandy went outside with her chair.

Happy Dog!

Back View.

Tracks in the snow.

Brandy's daily job continued despite her handicap.

Brandy watching over her yard.

Dinner time.