Hello Jason and Sierra,

I want to thank both of you for being there when we needed help the most.  Belladonna is doing remarkably well since she started using her new wheels.  She is walking on her own again in the house going after the cats as usual.  Just being Belladonna.  But when we go out for “walkabout”, her wheels are her freedom.  I swear I see her smile.

On December 4th of 2010,  we were playing catch in the yard.  She came in the house for a drink of water and without warning, her back legs quit working. She had ruptured two discs in her spine.  I had two choices.  Either have surgery or say good bye.   Anyone that has been through this knows how awful it is to see their best friend in such pain and unable to walk.  Obviously, I opted for the surgery and gave up buying anything for myself.  The cost was unbelievable but she was number 1.

We got through it with the help of a terrific Vet who specializes in therapy along with her wonderful assistant.  They got her through the worst part of this.  She regained the use of her back legs even though the surgeon who operated on her was skeptical because she had no deep pain in her back end.   I borrowed a cart from them that was made by another company.  The cart was helpful but she really did not do that well in it.  The wheels were not canted enough and she had two very bad rollovers while doing what she likes best.  That’s moving fast !!!  The wheels on her “RUFF ROLLIN” cart have passed the test with five stars.  Her new cart is like the Ferrari of cars.  She’s taken off on me more than once and has stayed upright with me running behind her screaming like a crazy woman for her to stop.  And she looks pretty cool in it!  The saddle gives her great support unlike the one on the borrowed cart in which the neoprene used on it was extremely thin and flimsy.

You know, at first, I thought what happened to Belladonna was like the end.  I never imagined one of my own ever becoming a special needs dog.  But it was just the beginning of a new chapter.  She has become her old self again plus more and I really believe the cart has given her all that.   She is more spoiled and rotten than ever and “oh so loved”.  She looks at me with those eyes of gratitude and knows I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her up and going.   She is a Red Healer after all and I think she has healed me in the process.

I am so grateful that there are people out there like Jason and Sierra.  Without them, the world of animals like Belladonna would be dreary.  Because of them, Bella has gotten her “happy” back.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and paws,
Kathleen and Belladonna