Dog wheelchairs - One man's mission to help paralysed pets
MALAYSIANSKINI | Pets with physical disabilities ranging from spinal injuries to paralysis will struggle and sadly, they can sometimes be abandoned.
However, one man is attempting to help ensure that their future doesn't have to be grim.
In August 2017, as an early birthday present to himself, Wong Che Wey decided to adopt a dog.
Wong and his wife are strong advocates of adopting dogs, having also rescued dogs in the past, some of which they now keep as pets and others that they've rehomed.
However, in 2017, he took in a dog that was different from his other dogs....
MALAYSIANSKINI | Pets with physical disabilities ranging from spinal injuries to paralysis will struggle and sadly, they can sometimes be abandoned.
However, one man is attempting to help ensure that their future doesn't have to be grim.
In August 2017, as an early birthday present to himself, Wong Che Wey decided to adopt a dog.
Wong and his wife are strong advocates of adopting dogs, having also rescued dogs in the past, some of which they now keep as pets and others that they've rehomed.
However, in 2017, he took in a dog that was different from his other dogs.
Frosty, a paraplegic dog, tugged on the couple's heartstrings, and they couldn't turn away.
"Someone posted a video of a dog on Facebook, asking if anyone was interested in adopting him.
"The shelter couldn't take care of him properly due to his leg issue.
"The video showed him playing with other dogs in the shelter, so I immediately thought, 'I have to bring him back’," recalled Wong, as he remembered wondering how it was possible that Frosty, despite his disability, was so active.
He was determined to give Frosty a better quality of life, so he tried looking for solutions to Frosty's physical condition.
However, after taking Frosty to multiple vets, the results of the X-rays were not in their favour.
"The vets said Frosty had no hope to walk again and that there's nothing we could do to improve his situation," Wong said, his voice low.
However, this revelation did not break his spirits, as Wong then decided to scout for physical support for Frosty. During his search, Wong stumbled upon a company in the United States that built wheelchairs for dogs.
Excitedly, Wong enquired about the wheelchair, relieved that he had found something that could possibly help Frosty walk. However, he was left disappointed when he realised that the cost of the wheelchair was way over his budget.
"With the logistics and the transportation, the wheelchair cost over RM2,000," said Wong, stating that the price was too much for him to bear.
However, not wanting to give up, Wong opted for a third choice. He decided that since he could not afford a wheelchair for Frosty, he would try making one from scratch.
A wheelchair for Frosty
"I started watching YouTube videos to see how I could use affordable and accessible materials for the wheelchair," said Wong, a training manager for a lubricant company, who used some of his free time after work to do his own research.
After some trial and error, in September 2017, Wong succeeded in fashioning a wheelchair for Frosty.
He discovered that he could use raw materials such as PVC pipes for the frame, foam and plastic wheels from children's bicycles, as well as some cloth for the harness, saving him some hard-earned money.
Wong made the wheelchair specially fitted for Frosty's disability, restoring mobility to the dog's paralysed legs.
"Frosty loves it!" exclaimed Wong in delight, adding that whenever he brings the wheelchair out, Frosty reacts in excitement, knowing that it's time to go for a walk.
Seeing Frosty being given a new chance at life, Wong realised that he wanted other disabled dogs to feel the same way Frosty did.
With that in mind, he started a Facebook page to showcase the wheelchair he made for Frosty, setting up a new side project to make wheelchairs for other disabled dogs.
The start of Dog Wheelchair Malaysia
Through the Facebook page, Dog Wheelchair Malaysia, many dog owners reached out to him in hopes of getting affordable walking aids for their pets.
In comparison to the wheelchairs sold by the company in the US, his wheelchairs do not cost any more than RM400.
"The price increases according to the size of the dog," he added, stating that the starting price of a two-wheeled wheelchair is RM280.
For dogs with four paralysed limbs, he adds two more wheels to provide complete support for the dogs.
Wong believes that his wheelchairs are not only affordable but also highly durable.
"Frosty still uses the wheelchair I made for him five years ago," he said.
Customised to each pooch
However, these wheelchairs do not come in a one-size-fits-all. They are custom-made for each dog, considering how all the dogs are built differently and do not share the same disabilities.
When asked how the dogs adapt to their custom-made wheelchairs, Wong noted that although most dogs quickly adapt to their new "limbs", a number of them require some time to get used to the new addition.
"In this case, I would suggest for the owners to walk them in the park since most dogs enjoy doing that," said Che Wey, noting that when the dogs realise that the wheelchair is used for something fun, they will perceive it differently and will more likely accept it then.
The struggles of a one-man show
Like many small side projects, the Covid-19 pandemic put a strain on Dog Wheelchair Malaysia. Throughout 2020, Wong had to reject many orders as it was impossible for him to make the wheelchairs without seeing the dogs for their measurements.
However, even after things began to open up slowly, the father of two struggled to find the time for his initiative.
“Since I was the only one making these wheelchairs, I found it hard to balance my time.
"When I started Dog Wheelchair Malaysia, I didn't have children," he said, stating that he used to have full weekends for himself to make the wheelchairs.
The lack of manpower and the time constraint further proved to be a challenge, which resulted in Wong having to slow down on taking orders from his Facebook page.
However, even with little time on his hands, Wong still intends on doing what he can to the best of his abilities to help, even if that means only being able to help a handful of dogs.
These days, he only takes orders only from vet recommendations.
"Most of my customers now come from vets and physiotherapists," said Wong.
"They would pass my contact to the owners, with whom I'll discuss the wheelchairs."
Not a business, but a means to help
Wong seemed hesitant when asked if he would one day want to expand his business on a bigger scale by having a team to assist him.
"Having a team will be difficult, as there will be too many things to manage.
"I don't really see this as a business, but just a way to help out," expressed Wong, noting that it was never his plan to make a big business out of Dog Wheelchair Malaysia.
Even though his wheelchairs cater toward dogs, Wong noted that he has also been approached to make wheelchairs for bigger animals such as goats, cows and horses, which he has turned down.
"I won't even take in orders from dogs above 45kgs, as the pipes I use can't withstand the weight," he said.
Along with the size of these animals being something he's unfamiliar with dealing with, the cost of the items needed to construct such a big wheelchair would be too much as they would require different and more complex materials.
With the growing number of pets being put to sleep due to their disabilities, Wong hopes his story with Frosty and his initiative will give other pet owners some hope.
"I truly feel that the wheelchair can give them an opportunity for a better life where they can go out and move freely despite their disabilities," said Wong, expressing his joy every time he sees the dogs excitedly move around when using his wheelchair.
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