I just saw this on another board...
Anyway, I also wanted to share another exciting development that can help paraplegic dogs everywhere thanks to a wonderful bioengineering professor and dog lover here at UofL, Dr. Gina Bertocci. She has designed an adjustable wheelchair for paraplegic dogs that anyone can build using items commonly found at a hardware store( except for two harnesses that attach to the dog). She is not pursuing a patent and instead has posted instructions on her web page for people that want to build the wheelchair themselves at http://web.me.com/gbertocci . I think this is just wonderful that she is being so selfless and openly sharing the design information! Wheelchairs for paralyzed dogs have been on the market for some time but their high cost keeps many pet owners from buying them. Most cost several hundred dollars and can't be adjusted to keep up with a growing dog. Dr. Bertocci's canine wheelchair is fully adjustable and weighs about 12 lbs. Parts can be purchased for less than $200 and assembled in one day using her design. If you go to the web site listed in this paragraph, you can see a video of doberman "Maggie" who was hit by a car that fractured her spine "in action"
in her adjustable canine wheelchair designed and built by Dr. Bertocci. She looks very happy and exploring a field at a pretty good clip!
