Woman's Pack of Disabled Dogs on Wheels Will Melt Anyone's Heart

“Ten years ago the direction of my life changed forever,” writes dog trainer Debbie Pearl of Huntington, California on this clip of her preparing dinner for her large pack of dogs. “My mission was revealed and I’ll continue this amazing journey until my last breath.” That mission, as she put it, was caring for a host of a disabled rescue dogs, all of whom have mobility issues and require devices like doggie wheelchairs or even prosthetic limbs. She calls her pets “The Unstoppable Dogs” and shares their adventures on social media traveling around Southern California and showing how she is giving these creatures “a new leash on life.”

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Pearl has a lot of experiencing training dogs—she’s even worked on movies—and she knows exactly what man’s best friend is capable of. So when she was first contacted by a rescue organization about a disabled dog named Eddie, she knew that it was possible for him to live a long and happy life—with just a bit off assistance from mobility technology.

Related: Rescue Shares Sweet Reason They Continue to Gift Wheels to Dogs with Disabilities

The Unstoppable Dogs

Since that day a decade ago, her pack has grown significantly, and now includes nine dogs: Speedy, Zeek, Eddie, Pop, Elliot, Stevie, Rudy, Remi, and Sydney. The dogs have a variety of disabilities, from spinal injuries that have immobilized their back legs and require wheels, to congenital defects that mean they needs specially-fitted stabilized on their front legs to walk. One f the dogs, Elliot, has no legs at all.

But their special needs to not slow these pups down. Pearl’s social media is full of videos of her taking the dogs out for strolls in her hometown of Huntington Beach, or even bringing them to the sand to enjoy the surf.

Pearl’s pups have also become therapy dogs, visiting nursing homes, schools, and hospitals where patients can see animals who need assistive devices, just as they might. They’re a huge hit at the local Easter Seals facility.

They’re also extremely popular on social media, where Pearl’s Instagram has over one hundred and fifty thousand followers around the world.

"I look for dogs that have been through traumatic events, but that have this amazing gift of forgiveness," Pearl said. "And that's a powerful thing for a lot of people, because they can see the courage, the resilience that these dogs have. And all of mine have been through the worst – and they've come out shining."

Mobility Devices For Pets

As anyone who has ever had to make the heartbreaking decision to put their pet to sleep knows, the “quality of life” issue is a big one. Luckily, modern technology is allowing otherwise healthy animals with mobility issues like these to live long and happy lives.

Mobility devices for dogs range broadly. Harnesses and special leashes can give a bit of support to older animals whose limbs don’t have the strength they once had. They know make doggie splints, knee braces, and other prosthetics to help animals with joint issues, missing limbs, or other malformations. And of course, two-wheeled dog harnesses act like animal wheelchairs to allow dogs without the use of their back legs run around just like any other pooch. Finally, “drag bags” are an item that dogs without the use of back limbs can wear outside or even around the house to help prevent injuries on their skin, chest, and belly from dragging their bodies along the ground.

These options help your pet become truly unstoppable.

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