Cart puts canine back in action

CHENNAI:  Ten-year-old Sam undoubtedly had the hottest set of wheels at the Madras Veterinary College on Friday. A je-black Pomeranian, Sam rushed around the park where the various dog shows were held, with his fitted 'balance cart' in tow.His owner, S Radhakrishnan, an engineer from Tirumullaivoyal, looked on with a hint of pride. "Two years ago, paralysis struck Sam from the waist to his tail, almost everyone suggested we put him to sleep," he recounted. But a 'mercy killing' was never an option for Radhakrishnan.With the dog dragging itself around pitifully in 2009 and doctors unable to find a 'solution', Radhakrishnan explored the options. "We learnt that there are carts for paralysed dogs available abroad but they were well beyond our budget. We were really in a quandary about what to do next," he said, reliving those testing memories. He then began walking Sam by tying his hind legs in a cloth sling and encouraging the animal to walk on its front legs.And then the little black dog caught a big break. One of the vets who saw Radhakrishnan repeatedly coming to the Madras Veterinary College, told him of a similar apparatus he had rigged up for his own Alsatian in Madurai. "The dog had apparently died, but he agreed to give us the 'dog wheelchair' to see if something could be worked out," he added. When the 'wheels' arrived, Radhakrishnan knew that it would take some of his engineering expertise, but if it worked, Sam might just be able to run again."I reduced the height and width to match Sam's smaller body and then rigged the main handle that goes around his neck to lock into the middle of his leash." This apparently saved Sam any discomfort while pulling his own weight, he reasoned. He also added a packing layer with thermocol on which Sam's posterior would rest, while the wheels did all the backend running. Amazingly, after several falls and engineering malfunctions, it actually worked.Now, two years on, Sam has gotten so used to it that he can match Radhakrishnan's running pace on the treadmill.The dog has also developed strong front legs that he uses to move without the wheels as well. "Seeing Sam move after doctors said that putting him down was the best course is a great testament to dog owners that handicapped dogs can be saved."