In 1990, still living in downtown Fredericton, before my first wheelchair, dog walking involved tethering them to my crutches. I didn’t walk very far with them as it really was exhausting. The Westie then age 11, being a retired show dog, was beautifully behaved but the obstreperous Cairn, a little scrapper who minded everyone’s business but his own was, to put it mildly, a real piece of work! He’d pull and lunge every time a crutch tapped the pavement. Enter Terry Pye, a Fredericton dog trainer. Not a fan of Cairns because they’re often pushy little things, he was quite taken with Mr. Clancy and successfully extinguished the lunging behaviour. Walkies with the wobbly one — that would be me — continued, but not without a few misadvantures, with that tale telling best left to another time. Perhaps another commentary. Very possibly a book.
The wheelchair was a game changer for the dogs — and for the cats, too. I could easily get to Wilmot Park with Mr. Clancy on one side and the grand old gal, Miss Lady, on the other, pulling me along as I pushed the wheels. The cats, being cats, followed at a discreet distance, not wanting to be associated with dogs; they’d wait on the curb, never crossing the street into the park. This routine went on several times a week for a couple of years until we moved out of the city. Mr. Clancy, the Cairn, was partial to large animals, convinced he was a Great Dane — there will be some readers who may remember us — he was the possessed creature pulling me up a hill at the park, with Miss Lady strapped on my lap, while the object of his attention, a police officer on a horse moved through the park. At one point, we were losing momentum and a passerby came to our rescue, pushing us to a level area; once up close and personal, the horse turned to let Mr. Clancy know he wasn’t amused. The stories that chair could tell!
Time and travels continued, with another pair of terriers, twin Cairns Mr. Alex and Mr. Jake, who were rescued from their previous living situation. Both took to the wheelchair immediately, always excited to get on the road; again and again and again. When we adopted these guys, we were living outside the city and our weekly trips ‘to town’, the dogs came along to enjoy a park outing with me while my husband did the grocery shopping. I got the better deal!
On one such excursion, we went through the drive-thru at Tim Horton’s, positioned in line with car traffic, always good for a smile from fellow caffeine addicts. I got a coffee and doughnut while a staff person brought out a bowl of water for the dogs. Then, it happened. Mr. Alex saw a squirrel and Mr. Jake was after a pigeon and I was stuck in the middle. The chair tipped sideways and then crashed to the ground. I had to throw my head up so I didn’t strike it on the ground. My elbow took the hit - split open and blood everywhere. A passerby assisted in getting me and the chair back in business. A quick check of the dogs to ensure they were not injured and we were off on a mad dash/push to Tingley’s Save Easy for medical supplies. While I was waiting at the end of a grocery bag conveyor, Mr. Alex, with his nose for chicken, decided it would be fun to check out a shopper’s groceries. I was surprised he didn’t hold out for a salad. And so it goes in the life I live with dogs.
Two years ago, I broke down and got 4 new tires for the little red racer, which provided a smoother ride. When I asked about replacing footrests, the sad news came — my chair was so old there were no parts available for it! The decision was made to investigate new wheels while deciding the future of my good and faithful servant.
Communications with Shawn Leger of Tango Medical solved my problem. Though my trusty ‘genuine antique’ was fitted to me at a rehab centre ‘seating clinic’, with ankle straps and lap belt attached, my new ride was chosen based on my small stature and the width of the chair. Old faithful was sent off to become part of Easter Seals loaner program, a great way to repurpose medical/mobility aids.
I took delivery of the new wheels several weeks ago, courtesy of Henry Buyting of Tango Medical Fredericton, who showed up at my door with it. After a test drive/mall crawl, I determined it needed a tweak, which was done. So far, so good.
All that’s needed now is to name it.
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with her aging Australian silky terrier and a rambunctious Maltese. She can be reached via email at carmacrockwell@xplornet.ca
