Finding A Way Of Continuing Life’s Pleasures

Reese enjoys some time on the recreation trail while getting use to his ‘Walker Wheels’.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The recreation trail that circles Oskaloosa has many users and uses, such as jogging, biking, nature watching, or walking, something one area dog and his human once again get to enjoy together.

Reese is a 13 year-old rescue puppy that came to live with Bill and Carol Vertz from Stephens Memorial animal shelter when Reese was just a year old. Reese had a long time friend, Buster, that got adopted with him at the time, as well, that recently passed away. Buster had been blind for the last two years of his life, and during that time Bill said that Reese would help his friend by “being the eyes for the other dog.”

Since about November, Reese has been losing his ability to walk. So the Vertz’s took Reese to some specialists to see what was wrong, with the assumption that there would be some sort of back problem. After further testing, it was found that Reese has an illness that is similar to Lou Gehrig’s Disease and that nothing could be done for him to regain the use of his hind legs.

Carol saw the apparatus ‘Walker Wheels’ on TV and thought that it could potentially help Reese once again become mobile. After some further research on the internet, they decided to get Reese a “wheel chair for dogs”, as Bill puts it.

The ‘Walker Wheels’ helps Reese once again walk and is something he’s still getting use to. Monday was his first day out again, after taking a break from walking for a week.

“Well you can see in his face, he’s just the same old dog. I just didn’t have the heart to let him go.” Bill said.  “He’s an incredible dog.”