Retired police dog with spinal cord disorder receives special wheelchair

[Buttercup]

MARLBORO - He's been sniffing out narcotics, chasing down suspects and protecting residents for the better part of the last decade.

And now, it's time for Vaik a 9-year-old German shepherd and eight-year veteran of the Marlboro Police Department's K-9 unit to relax and let someone else take care of him.

Vaik was retired in August after being diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord disorder that has left him unable to walk on his hind legs.

On Oct. 29, he received a parting gift: a specially crafted wheelchair to keep him mobile despite his disability.

Retired Marlboro police dog with spinal cord disorder receives special wheelchair | NJ.com

[Trojan 42]

Sad. I feel that when a dog gets to that stage it's time to be put to sleep. Quality of life and all that.

[Wolven]

Sad. I feel that when a dog gets to that stage it's time to be put to sleep. Quality of life and all that.

I think it depends on the dog...some dont do well and their quality of life is not good. For some, it is a good thing...they dont see it as an issue and learn to adapt and enjoy life.

[Trojan 42]

In my 40+ years of dog ownership, the best advice I was ever given by a Vet was, ''If it's 2 good days to 1 bad, keep going, but if it's 2 bad days to 1 good, let go. Never keep a dog alive for your sake, only the dogs.''

I feel that if it's paralysed at the rear legs, it probably can't crap poperly either.