Colorado thief nabs disabled dog’s pricey wheelchair — but community steps up to help pooch

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Doggone it!

A thief in Colorado stole a disabled canine’s wheelchair from proper off his proprietor’s porch, leaving the aged pooch with no solution to stroll — till the neighborhood stepped in.

Megan Caligiuri has owned her rescued schnauzer combine Griff for about 15 years, taking him on numerous adventures throughout the nation and even on 10-mile hikes. As Griff bought older — now pushing 100 in human years — his mobility began to endure.

Megan Caligiuri and her canine Griff, a 15-year-old schnauzer combine. CBS

Griff and his proprietor would go on miles-long hikes together with his wheelchair. CBS

So, to place the pep again in Griff’s step, Caligiuri bought a doggie wheelchair to assist his failing hind legs. Whereas the 10-mile hikes had gotten ruff, he was in a position to push on together with his new wheels.

“We go three miles a day, and it’s been a game-changer for him. Somebody noticed him trucking round within the snow and was like, ‘He’s such an inspiration!'” Caligiuri instructed CBS Information.

Caligiuri leaves Griff’s wheelchair on her Englewood porch after each stroll, because it’s often caked in filth from the pup rolling round on the bottom.

“The following morning, he’s fairly jazzed for his subsequent stroll. I am going outdoors and so they’re gone. I've no religion left in humanity that somebody would steal a disabled canine’s wheelchair,” Caligiuri instructed the outlet in regards to the Nov. 11 theft.

Griff required a wheelchair to maneuver round as his hind legs began to fail him. CBS

The common value for a high quality canine wheelchair can vary from round $190 as much as $400. And they aren't even accessible on the common pet retailer.

Caligiuri filed a police report and posted about it on the neighborhood app Nextdoor in hopes that somebody had seen the thief — or might assist discover the doggone wheelchair’s whereabouts.

The web responses shortly prolonged past her neighborhood although, with greater than 80 folks reaching out to supply donations, sources and sort phrases, Caligiuri mentioned.

The proprietor mentioned she had “misplaced religion in humanity.” CBS

Griff has all the time loved happening lengthy walks and his wheelchair helps him push round three miles every day. CBS

The story managed to make its solution to Kathryn Groenewold, a advertising and marketing director at Paw Prosper, an organization specializing in supporting disabled canine.

Walkin’ Pets, one of many corporations owned by Paw Prosper, shortly hand-delivered a brand new wheelchair to Caligiuri on Thursday.

“We simply couldn’t depart this canine with out wheels. There’s nothing extra unimaginable than seeing a beforehand motionless pet have motion and pleasure and the enjoyment of working and play come again into their lives,” Groenewold instructed CBS Information.

Caligiuri was floored by the neighborhood’s generosity and is simply grateful that Griff will be capable of get again to his every day walks in his swanky new wheels.

“I really feel so overwhelmed by the kindness of individuals. That is how he will get round and the way he enjoys life and experiences life. My religion in humanity has been restored. Thanks, everybody, a lot,” Caligiuri mentioned.