As any Border Collie owner (*raises hand*) can tell you, to describe them as “high energy” is modest at best. Bred as herding dogs, they require near constant activity and attention, because if they aren’t “working”, they aren’t happy.
But how is a Border Collie supposed to “work” when his front legs won’t, well, work? Roosevelt the Border Collie was born with malformed legs, making the act of running quite impossible. Three years ago, however, he was adopted from New England Border Collie Rescue. Her new owner, Stephanie Fox, adapted a wheelchair designed to support a dog’s hind legs to support the front of Roosevelt’s body
“The only difference between Roosevelt and other dogs is that instead of a collar I snap on his wheels to take him out,” Fox told the Bangor Daily News. “People think he should have been put down because they think he’s suffering, but he wakes up happy every day. If you had a child with a disability you’d try to enrich them, give them opportunities. So why not do the same with a dog?” [Bangor Daily News via Death and Taxes]
Roosevelt taking a walk.
Roosevelt in his harness.
Roosevelt sans his harness.
Images: Robert F. Bukaty/BDN