After a career of helping handicapped children, it was only natural that Kathie Byers would be attracted to the pathetic misshapen dog she spotted in the corner of a local veterinarian’s kennel.
The dog’s front legs had been crushed probably in an accident with a car years before. Because there had been no treatment at the time, the dog’s legs were distorted, folded tightly to her chest and covered with sores. Unable to stand, she was barely able to move, and was fearful of everything. About six years old, she had given birth to an unknown number of litters of pups.
Saddened and appalled by the condition of the dog, Byers couldn’t get the animal out of her mind. The following day she found the dog in the same place, her head still down, avoiding any human contact. Byers took the dog home to see if any of the techniques she’d used with the handicapped children could make this dog’s life happier and more comfortable.
Once the dog was bathed and fed, she was named her Dulcita Valerosa (Sweet and Courageous). It took time for Dulcita to become accustomed to the kind woman and to learn to respond – at first with a few whimpering and squealing noises.
Once Byers gained Dulcita’s trust, she tried to get the dog moving, first with a front-end “wheelchair” improvised from a plastic crate filled with pillows mounted on a wheeled plant stand. To teach the concept of movement, Byers started by gently pulling the cart. Dulcita understood and started to move her back legs but the wheels were too small and the cart got stuck. After a number of ideas and false starts, including adapting the concept of commercially made carts for dogs with immobile back legs, Byers went back to the version on the plant stand. In spite of the sticking wheels, it was the best solution.
Then, while “walking” with Dulcita alongside the Carretera, a man asked about Dulcita and offered to build a cart mounted between a pair of bicycle wheels. It too was off balance, and Dulcita fell forward. It took six weeks of trial and error for him to develop the cart that Dulcita now maneuvers as if she’s never known anything else. With exercise, her back legs are becoming stronger and with daily care, the leg sores healing. Now Dulcita has learned to stand up on her hind legs like a meerkat. She can move by hopping on her back legs.
After just a few months Dulcita is a happy dog. While she prefers to be close to Byers, she now wags her tail and happily greets the dozen or so friends and neighbors who make up her fan club. These folks have helped Byers care for Dulcita and contributed to the dog’s improvement and quality of life. Feeling safe, loved and wanted, the dog is starting to visit these neighbors on her own.
This fall Byers and Dulcita hope to be accepted into the Ajijic Rotary Dog Assisted Therapy program (ARDAT). Dogs in the ARDAT program visit special needs children to give them hope and encouragement. Dulcita will be a perfect role model, showing kids that handicaps need not hold kids or dogs back from having a great life.
To learn more about ARDAT call (376) 766-5025 and visit the website: rotaryajijic.org.