Monday, August 23, 2010

Handicapped dog first to Mt Washington summit


In an article written by Melanie Plenda for the Union Leader in New Hampshire, the story of an amazing athletic feat is unfolded.

This athlete happens to be a dog.

A handicapped dog.

It’s the story of Lucy, a dog left for dead just a years prior, due to irreparable spine and leg damage. And amazingly, with the aid of a designed doggy wheelchair, for the rear of the body, on just two legs, Lucy made it to the summit of Mount Washington.

Being a small dog owner, and someone who hikes and climbs Mount Washington myself, I cannot stress to you enough the incredible feat this must have been for such a small animal: especially one suffering from this severe a handicap. I couldn’t imagine hiking Mount Washington without my arms yet alone two supporting limbs.

But to not steal the efforts from Melanie’s work, I’ll provide you with the link here to read the story yourself.

This is a feel good story :)

If a handicapped dog can do this, imagine what you can with all of your body intact…

Please allow to be motivational for yourself. It was for me today to perform my own workout despite the immense pain from advanced hike/climb up Mount Washington Saturday morning with Mike Signori.

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Handicapped+dog+is+first+to+reach+summit+of+Mount+Washington&articleId=22253270-2c15-4763-abf5-f102c02fa017

Cool Quotes from Melanie’s article:
"In fact, she's the first to even attempt it," said Ryan Triffitt, marketing director for Mount Washington. "Mount Washington has always been a proving ground . . . Last summer, we had a camel. This summer, a dog in a wheelchair."

"She's such a go-getter," Dunning said. "Nothing stops her, she'll try anything. She goes up steps, she jumps off steps. She goes for walks, she goes for runs. Even at a full-out sprint, she far outdoes me."