SNAPPED: Big dog in big wheelchair gives big love and gets big love

Durango the dog. Photo: Judy Bernstein

PARK CITY, Utah — Foster-fail Durango-the-dog’s new wheelchair is just what the doctor ordered. Well, it’s just what the vet ordered, well, it’s just what Judy ordered…online.

Durango is a long-haired King German Shepherd, who is approximately nine-years-old. His owner Judy Bernstein isn’t exactly sure as he was a rescue seven years ago. 

She’s never had a disabled dog before, but she told TownLift, “I took one look at him, and he was in a crate, laying down, and I said, ‘He’s beautiful, let me see him out of the crate’. When he came out and he had one missing leg, and I said, ‘No, I’m the right person to adopt an amputee’. The rescue organization then called me later, over Christmas when all the kennels were full, and they needed a foster home for Durango. I fostered him, and then three months later, somebody wanted him, and I said, ‘Nope, too late, mine is his forever-home now.” 

Durango even has a dog fiancé now. Her name is Cali and she belongs to Bernstein’s Park City housemate. The two inseparable dogs got engaged last Christmas when the two humans put gold-colored special, sparkly Scrunchies around each dogs wrists. Bernstein explained, “I said, ‘Repeat after me, do you take each other to be partner forever dogs?’ They both barked and Cali nibbled Durango on the ear lovingly to seal the deal.”

He had to have his hind leg surgically removed after he was hit by a car on the Fourth of July during a fireworks show. Bernstein, who has spent many years living in New York City, was elated that coincidentally the year she got Durango, the NY Times put out a full page PSA educating entities to have drone shows instead to prevent this exact scenario from happening to other dogs in the future.

Durango’s naturally aging and having three legs is a challenge with his naturally larger size, therefore the vet and Bernstein decided a new wheelchair would be the way to go. Together, they decided that ordering one simply from one of any number of caring companies online would work, and it has.

Don’t be surprised to see Durango out on the Park City trails in his new wheelchair.