Doggone it!
A thief in Colorado stole a disabled dog’s wheelchair from right off his owner’s porch, leaving the elderly pooch with no way to walk — until the community stepped in.
Megan Caligiuri has owned her rescued schnauzer mix Griff for about 15 years, taking him on countless adventures across the country and even on 10-mile hikes. As Griff got older — now pushing 100 in human years — his mobility started to suffer.
So, to put the pep back in Griff’s step, Caligiuri purchased a doggie wheelchair to help his failing hind legs. While the 10-mile hikes had gotten ruff, he was able to push on with his new wheels.
“We go three miles a day, and it’s been a game-changer for him. Someone saw him trucking around in the snow and was like, ‘He’s such an inspiration!’” Caligiuri told CBS News.
Caligiuri leaves Griff’s wheelchair on her Englewood porch after every walk, since it’s usually caked in dirt from the pup rolling around on the ground.
“The next morning, he’s pretty jazzed for his next walk. I go outside and they’re gone. I have no faith left in humanity that someone would steal a disabled dog’s wheelchair,” Caligiuri told the outlet about the Nov. 11 theft.
The average price for a quality dog wheelchair can range from around $190 up to $400. And they are not even available at the average pet store.
Caligiuri filed a police report and posted about it on the neighborhood app Nextdoor in hopes that someone had seen the thief — or could help find the doggone wheelchair’s whereabouts.
The online responses quickly extended beyond her neighborhood though, with more than 80 people reaching out to offer donations, resources and kind words, Caligiuri said.
The story managed to make its way to Kathryn Groenewold, a marketing director at Paw Prosper, a company specializing in supporting disabled dogs.
Walkin’ Pets, one of the companies owned by Paw Prosper, quickly hand-delivered a new wheelchair to Caligiuri on Thursday.
“We just couldn’t leave this dog without wheels. There’s nothing more incredible than seeing a previously immobile pet have movement and excitement and the joy of running and play come back into their lives,” Groenewold told CBS News.
Caligiuri was floored by the community’s generosity and is just grateful that Griff will be able to get back to his daily walks in his swanky new wheels.
“I feel so overwhelmed by the kindness of people. This is how he gets around and how he enjoys life and experiences life. My faith in humanity has been restored. Thank you, everyone, so much,” Caligiuri said.
