Willy (born about 1991) is a paraplegic chihuahua from Long Beach, California who has become a celebrity as the subject of two bestselling children's books. He makes frequent public appearances promoting mutual understanding among those with and without physical disability. Following appearances on the Animal Planet television network, he has been popularly dubbed Wheely Willy.
Background
Willy was found abandoned in a cardboard box with spinal injuries and a cut throat. Taken in by a veterinary hospital and treated, Willy stayed there for a year unadopted. Learning that without a taker, the dog would be euthanised, pet groomer Deborah Turner decided to bring him home.
Initially, the two pound (one kilogram) Willy needed to be carried everywhere, but Turner make several attempts to allow the dog to move autonomously. Turner attempted attaching large helium-filled balloons to the dog's hindquarters and then placing him on a skateboard, with little success. Ultimately, an advertisement for K-9 Carts, a type of wheelchair designed for canine applications, came to Turner's attention. Willy adapted to this mode of transportation in short order; curiosity from Turner's customers and acquaintances led to local news coverage and steadily increased to international notability.
Willy has made visits internationally, most often to hospitals, but he has also participated in such events as the Cystic Fibrosis Fun Walk and the Los Angeles Marathon. The dog's tenacity and good nature are frequently cited as an inspiration by people who have encountered him.
Bibliography
- Deborah Turner, Diana Mohler, authors; Rhonda McHugh, illustrator (1998). How Willy got his Wheels. ISBN 0-944875-54-8
- Deborah Turner, Diana Mohler, authors; Sue Ehrends, illustrator (2003). How Willy Got His Wings: The Continuing Adventures of Wheely Willy. ISBN 0-944875-88-2
- Colleen Needles, Kit Carlson, Kim Levin (2000). Working Dogs: Tales from Animal Planet's K-9 to 5 World. ISBN 1-563318-43-1
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