Red Flyer, a nonprofit organization, allows shelters, rescue groups and individuals the ability to request a cart that is loaned out at no charge.
HoneyBear, a small chihuahua, endured a tough life producing puppies for a backyard breeder until she was abruptly dropped off at a north Florida shelter because she could no longer breed at a fast enough rate.
Shelter workers soon realized that HoneyBear had suffered severe injuries and did not receive the basic care she needed. They wanted to give her a chance at finding a forever home.
Shelter employees began to notice that her injuries were far worse than first anticipated. As a result of nursing multiple litters of puppies, the calcium in her bones depleted, causing brittle and fractured bones that were never tended. Due to the severity of her condition, HoneyBear was scheduled for humane euthanasia.
The shelter was able to place HoneyBear with a foster family as a last ditch effort to save her, but over time her leg bones and ligaments deteriorated to the point where she could no longer support her own body weight. Kristine Williams, HoneyBear’s foster mom, stated, "Both her spirit and ours became crushed until our vet suggested a wheel cart."
After doing some research, Williams found that HoneyBear was in need of a quad-cart, essentially a wheelchair for dogs. Unfortunately, the cost of a quad-cart was $600 to $900. This was way beyond what the shelter could provide.
Williams continued her research and discovered Red Flyer, a nonprofit organization that collects previously used dog wheel carts and refurbishes them if it’s necessary. Red Flyer allows shelters, rescue groups and individuals the ability to request a cart that is loaned out at no charge.
HoneyBear was put on the list and received her cart shortly after. The cart remains a loaner for as long as HoneyBear needs it, then the shelter will return it to Red Flyer for the next animal in need.
"It has been a slow process as she gets used to it and we are doing a little each day so as not to tire her out with too much at once," Williams said. "I can’t imagine the last time that HoneyBear was able to walk on her own. It continues to be an interesting adventure with fingers crossed that she will become somewhat independently mobile for periods of time each day."
Many shelters are not equipped to care for an animal that has physical limitations such as HoneyBear’s. This program makes it possible for these shelter animals to have a second chance where they may not have gotten one. Flagler Humane Society would love to accept any used wheel carts for this purpose. If they can’t be used for the pets that they have in residence, the carts will be donated to Red Flyer so that many other pets can benefit from the donation.
For more information on the Red Flyer program or to donate right to them, visit their Facebook page at Red Flyer, The Handicapped Pets Community. If you would like to donate a cart to the Flagler Humane Society, send an email to kshare@flaglerhumanesociety.org for information on how to do this.
Jordan Puyear is the Development Coordinator at Flagler Humane Society. She can be reached at jpuyear@flaglerhumanesociety.org. Flagler Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1980. For more information, go to flaglerhumanesociety.org.