<< Previous   of   Next >> Christina Harper / Special to The Herald  (click to enlarge) Beanie, whose owner is Robert Welch of Mill Creek, gets around with the help of a cart made by K9 Carts West of Langley. (click to enlarge) Robert Welch

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Pet carts made on Whidbey bring back mobility

Animal carts produced by K9 Carts West in Langley restore mobility to beloved pets.

By Christina Harper
Special to The Herald

Beanie, a 10-year-old pug, began losing control of her rear legs about a year ago. She didn't show signs of pain, but her concerned owner, Robert Welch of Mill Creek, took her to a clinic to find out the cause.

Test results came back, but did not reveal a definite diagnosis. Surgery would be possible, but there was no guarantee it could improve Beanie's condition.

"It's probably arthritis and age," Welch said.

When Welch asked about help, he learned about a dog cart made by a Langley company that could help Beanie get around much more easily.

One week later, Beanie had a K9 Cart and was walking again right away.

"She's moving along quite well," Welch said.

The staff at K9 Carts West in Langley measure animals, build carts and fit them to creatures that are having trouble getting around or who are paralyzed. The carts are used by animals around the world as far away as Australia, India and Africa.

"Japan and Korea are big markets," said owner Barbara Parkes, originally from Scotland. Parkes saw a need for dog carts when she lived in Pennsylvania and was married to an animal orthopedic specialist. He designed his first carts during the 1960s in New York.

Parkes took over the running of the family business in the mid-'70s. Almost 20 years later, she moved to Montana and lived there until 1999. The business moved to Oak Harbor and five years later she has a small staff, now working in Langley.

Through the years, celebrities such as Ted Turner, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Doris Day helped bring attention to K9 Carts. Turner's Labrador lost the use of its rear legs but after being fitted with a K9 Cart the dog began to walk again. Some people may remember seeing one of Parkes' carts on "The Drew Carey Show"; Speedy, a golden retriever on the show, used one.

Parkes has seen a need for carts not just for animals that are paralyzed but for those who just need help walking. The carts, built with comfort in mind, allow the animals to walk while giving them support and helping them maintain muscle tone.

Dogs such as dachshunds and poodles can develop a degenerative spinal problem. Carts can often help, Parkes said.

"What's underrated is the rehabilitative aid," Parkes said of the device. "Usually every animal is improved with the use of the canine cart."

And Parkes means animals, not just dogs. She recently sent out a cart for a rabbit in Las Vegas. Cats, sheep, goats and other animals use the carts, as well as a skunk in Canada.

If clients live in the area they can take their pets to Langley to be measured and later fitted with a cart. Parkes takes orders by phone and helps pet owners supply the measurements and details. When it comes to small animals such as hamsters, squirrels and guinea pigs, Parkes can tell owners how to make a cart.

"It is important to get young animals in carts," Parkes said. "You want to get them into alignment."

The staff in Langley doesn't charge for evaluations. They can usually measure and fit an animal to the cart in the same day, but sometimes it takes several days.

"Business is good," Parkes said. "The international market has picked up, probably because of the (falling value of the) dollar."

Parkes and her staff create carts in their shop for animals from 3 pounds to 200 pounds. The cart's price is based upon the animal's weight. The two-wheeled version, like the one Beanie uses, means that animals still use their front legs to walk. Paralyzed animals use the four-wheeled cart.

Parkes says only a few dogs won't accept the canine carts.

"A feisty terrier such as a Cairn or a Scottie," she said, might balk at the apparatus.

The K9 Cart is easy to use both for Beanie and for Welch. Beanie's back legs are placed in the rear through two hoops that support her. Her owner has her on a leash and the small wheels at the back of the cart make for a comfortable walk.

Although Beanie's back feet do touch the ground, her rear legs are not pushing. She is adjusting to her new cart, but Welch is glad he got her fitted before her rear legs gave out completely. Additional settings can be fine-tuned if Beanie becomes completely immobile.

Parkes gets a warm feeling when she thinks of some of the animals she has helped who otherwise may have been euthanized.

"If you give them the opportunity then an animal will walk along," she said. "Just like us."

Christina Harper is a Snohomish County freelance writer. She can be reached at harper@heraldnet.com.