CorgiAid: Carts for Corgis
CorgiAid, Inc, a non-profit organization founded to provide financial aid to corgis and corgi mixes in rescue, now has another mission: to match donated corgi carts with recipient corgis.
Both Pembroke Welsh Corgis (the ones without the tails) and Cardigan Welsh Corgis (the ones with the tails) occasionally need a wheeled cart. Although the incidence of back problems is fairly low, both breeds can have intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) or severe spinal arthritis, due in part to their long backs, and Pems may develop degenerative myelopathy (DM) which is a degenerative neurological disease. A set of wheels can give a corgi a new lease on life, as they did for Gary and Deni David’s corgi, Abbie.
Abbie was five when she began rupturing disks. After several surgeries, she still had difficulty, and was dragging one hind leg and having trouble with the other. When the David’s found out about dog wheelchairs, they ordered one from Doggon Wheels. Abbie adapted to the cart within minutes, and was soon Queen of the Trails again. The wheelchair proved to be good physical therapy, too, and Abbie regained some of the use of her legs. Eventually Abbie wore out her first cart, and Doggon Wheels made her a new one.
When Abbie died in January 2005 of lymphosarcoma, the David’s, long-time supporters of CorgiAid, heard about the new cart program, and offered to donate Abbie’s cart. Since CorgiAid is a 501 ( c ) 3 charitable organization, they could take a tax deduction for the market value of the cart. CorgiAid will reimburse cart donors postage as well, but the Davids chose to donate that cost to CorgiAid.
Abbie, a red-headed tri-color Pembroke Welsh Corgi, in her cart.
Bobbie Mayer, CorgiAid’s Cart Coordinator, received the cart in the mail. Bobbie, who previously had a senior corgi who needed a cart, stores the donated carts, sees that they are refurbished if needed, and matches them to applicants for carts. The major cart manufacturers, Doggon Wheels, K9Carts, and Eddie’s Wheels have all been helpful in providing measurements for the carts and discounting any needed parts. As of October, within six months of the announcement of the program, twelve donated carts have been received and nine are out on loan to new users.
When Kathy Alexander adopted Chloe, the senior Pembroke Welsh Corgi was already compensating for bad knees with a strong front. When she became less steady on her front legs, she was unable to stand. Kathy posted on Corgi-L, a list-serve for corgi owners, and found out about the CorgiAid cart program. Kathy emailed Bobbie with Chloe’s measurements, which turned out to be a fit to Abbie’s cart. Kathy sent a $50 deposit and the cost of shipping to Joyce Trittipo, CorgiAid’s treasurer, along with a contract promising to return the cart in good condition, and Bobbie shipped the cart to Kathy. Chloe is still in the learning stages of using a cart- corgis are notoriously stubborn about moving in them at first- but Kathy believes that Chloe will benefit greatly from the cart.
Abbie’s cart is a good fit for Chloe.
CorgiAid is always grateful for the cart donations, and maintains a memorial page where donors can have a photo and memorial of the corgi who first used the cart. We have only had to turn down two applicants, both during the first month of the program, when only a few carts had been donated, but we hope that the program will continue to grow so we never have to turn down another applicant. Applicants are not asked to provide proof of financial need (we understand that for any corgi needing a cart, veterinary expenses have probably already been quite high.) We also maintain links to many of the cart companies and to other resources on our website so that corgi owners can find information about buying (or building) a cart.
Wesley, a red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi, enjoys a day at the
Beach in his cart.
For more information about the CorgiAid cart program, to donate a cart, or to apply for a cart, see http://www.corgiaid.org/cart or email carts@corgiaid.org
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