The novel sustainable walking aids are a result of a collaboration between Turkish electronics manufacturer Vestel and the Manisa Metropolitan Municipality.
Turkish electronics manufacturer Vestel has teamed up with the Manisa Metropolitan Municipality to make a walking aid for animals with disabilities. The walker, a harness that straps onto the animals’ bodies with wheels, is sustainably constructed from waste materials.
Stray dogs and other animals who suffer debilitating mobility injuries are given their mobility back with the walkers. They will be distributed throughout animal shelters across the country.
The company uses waste material garnered from the manufacture of electronic devices to make the walking devices. Commenting on the project, Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cengiz Ergün said the city has an animal rehabilitation center specializing exclusively on paralyzed animals.
Dogs lose leg function due to cross breeding
It is not uncommon for dogs to suffer spinal injuries that affect the functioning of their rear legs. This can be caused by crossbreeding that results in animals with elongated spines, the long torso can cause nerve damage when the animal jumps or cause nerve deterioration over time.
Once a dog or cat injures their spine, just like with humans, it is almost impossible to repair. Some dogs and cats find ways to help themselves move, but many become unable to traverse even the shortest distances.
Mobility aids are usually a set of rear wheels that are attached to rods which then strapped to the animal. The animals’ injured rear legs are lifted off the ground and they can get movement by walking with their two front legs forward.
Dogs are everywhere
Estimates suggest that there are about 150,000 free-roaming dogs in Istanbul alone. Some of these end up in shelters if they are found in poor health or with the aforementioned disabilities.
By Jessica Miley