Born with significant limb deformities in both of his front legs, Sundae was unable to walk properly without human assistance. As a puppy, his owners were creative in their solution. They propped him up on empty toilet rolls to allow him a little bit of movement and help him experience puppy-hood – until he grew out of their temporary crutches.
Sundae’s owners were running out of options, and when they needed to move away from their home, they knew that they would no longer be able to care for the disabled pup – and surrendered the Maremma Sheepdog to RSPCA SA.
RSPCA SA vets and Dog Care team worked hard to organise a wheelchair he could use, and with the help of volunteers they got Sundae accustomed to his new wheels.
The team ensured they properly socialised the puppy, and made an effort to bring him out on walks as often as possible – which also served to improve his movement. Caitlin, a volunteer at the Lonsdale shelter, described him as having a “joy for life,” and was very impressed he was so easily able to keep up with the other dogs.
The team noted the puppy “loved everyone he met” while at the shelter, and remained playful and friendly despite his physical limitations.
Anastasia was looking for a new canine companion for both her and her Maremma Sheepdog, and when she saw Sundae, she knew he was the pup for her
The Albert Park woman was excited to take on the challenge of caring for Sundae – and knew that she would be able to give a good home to a dog in need.
Anastasia remembered when she first saw the pup, “he was getting grubby and having the best time rolling around in the grass!” Sundae hadn’t even noticed he had a visitor, but when he realised a potential owner had come to meet him, he was incredibly excited to say hello to Anastasia, who was amazed at the little dog’s ability to move around so easily.
“We got to see how he got around in his wheelchair and see how he worked out problems like getting over cracks that his wheels got stuck in,” she recalled.
He showed his fun personality right away
It wasn’t long before Anastasia was in the car on the way home with her new companion. She made sure he wasn’t going to roll around in the back seat, and strapped him in so that he could enjoy watching all the cars driving past – an activity that Anastasia was excited to say he absolutely loved.
Sundae settled in right away, and with time (and an abundance of treats) the pup is learning to get along with Anastasia’s other dog.
There were a few changes which had to be made to accommodate the disabled dog, including grass mats to even-out pavers in the yard and extra rugs to improve his grip on the floors inside. Now, Sundae has made himself at home and is starting to show his quirks.
“Every day is something funny with this guy.”
The cheeky pup has made a habit of stealing socks, shoes, and anything else that he thinks might be interesting. Anastasia says he bounces around like a kangaroo whenever he gets excited, and he can be heard howling with joy all across the house whenever he gets his paws on a squeaky toy.
The pup does his best to keep up with other dogs, but he’s still learning how to play without pushing himself too far.
Sundae is able to traverse short distances on his own and loves going for runs at the park without his chair just as much as he loves speeding around on his wheels. “Still,” says Anastasia, describing how he spends ages watching her chickens in the backyard, “he’s a proper Maremma at heart”.
Anastasia believes that all dogs, especially those who are older or have a disability, deserve the chance for a happy life.
With the help of the Dog Care team at Lonsdale, she learned how to best care for her two-and-a-half-legged friend. “The lovely ladies [at RSPCA SA] who were working with him recorded a few videos of how to get him in and out of his wheelchair for us,” said Anastasia.
With the help of RSPCA SA, Sundae has managed to find his forever home with Anastasia. Now, the happy and healthy pup can move around with and without his chair – and has come a long way from being balanced on toilet rolls as a puppy.
“Every day he gets more and more strong and loves just being his best self,” reports Anastasia. “It’s never a dull moment with him around.”
