Ned – “Neddy,” as his owners call him – is a cow dog, through and through.
But an accident in June nearly put an end to that – and to Ned.
“I received a call at work from a very upset cowboy telling me that our dog, Ned, had been hit by a car while moving cattle,” said owner Megan Graff.
“The future of our beloved Neddy wasn’t looking too hot, and at this point we were almost certain we would have to put him down.”
A dislocated spine leading to paralysis of Ned’s hind legs made the future look bleak.
“For a working cow dog, this seemed like a death sentence. No way would he want to live life forced to watch from the sidelines,” she said.
Although Ned was badly injured, his demeanor at the veterinarian’s office made one thing clear to Graff and her fiance Justin McCauley, Boulder Valley rancher: “He was eager to go home, and we weren’t going to stop him.”
Graff said, “Our amazing vet Corey Tebay gave us good advice on care as far as cleanliness and physical therapy/recovery go, but there are so many little things you wouldn’t think of until you’re put in this situation.”
Not everyone is comfortable or knowledgeable talking about caring for a paralyzed dog, so the couple began doing research on the internet.
“Justin found a lot of information on how to care for and increase healing by ways of laser treatments and acupuncture. I found testimonials and asked for advice from complete strangers. That is how I found Jason Parker,” said Graff.
Parker is the founder of Gunnar’s Wheels, a non-profit named for his own dog, Gunnar, paralyzed in an accident. The organization provides wheelchairs to an array of animals.
“We are talking dogs, cats, bunnies and even a deer. It doesn’t matter what type of animal, if they’re in need, Jason is willing to help,” said Graff.
Gunnar’s Wheels, which has built up a following and funding through Go Fund Me, is one of several organizations that offers the service for free or a very nominal charge. Other organizations can charge hundreds of dollars for custom-made wheels. (See separate article on this page.)
Graff said Parker was very supportive and helpful.
“We talked about how Justin and I wanted Ned to take part in our upcoming wedding, how we wanted Ned to keep working cattle because that’s what he loves to do, and lastly, how we couldn’t imagine not giving all we had to Ned, because he has given us so much love, happiness, and faithfulness,” said Graff.
In some situations, that honesty might have opened the door for a scammer to take huge advantage of the grieving couple. But, “Jason did not hesitate. He offered us a wheelchair at no cost,” said Graff. “He even sent us ski attachments for the winter time.”
With the aid of the wheelchair, Ned was soon back on the job.
“The cattle still respect Ned, but the horses are still trying to get used to the cart,” said Graff. “They are a little antsy when Ned is running at them, I assume because of the sound it makes on gravel.”
The generous gift of the wheelchair was really the gift of a full life for Ned, said Graff.
She went on to say, “I am still in shock at the kindness bestowed on us by a stranger. We are just two people from a small town that don’t have much to offer, and Jason, receiving nothing and no gains from this, is donating the gift of freedom and mobility to Ned.”
Calling the generosity of Parker “incredible,” Graff said she and McCauley wanted to share the story as “our way of repaying Jason and Gunnar’s Wheels.” There was another motive for telling the story, she added.
“Telling this story is our hope that maybe it will inspire others to share kindness, embrace strangers, and live life to the fullest, never taking anything for granted, even the small stuff,” she said.
As for Ned, he has learned to use the donated set of wheels and “less than a month after Ned’s accident, he was back to working cattle and playing fetch, a lesson in resilience and happiness that we will always cherish and try our best to remember.”
And shortly, Ned will proudly cement that place in the family with a part in the wedding. “We couldn’t imagine not having him there for major milestones in our upcoming future,” said the bride-to-be.
