Charity gets disabled dogs 'wheelie' moving

A charity which provides wheelchairs for dogs is among four nominees in a new animal category for BBC Radio Suffolk's Make a Difference Awards 2024.

Winston's Wheels was started by Rachel Wettner in Great Cornard after her Staffordshire terrier Winston lost the use of his back legs due to a tumour on his spine.

"I used to know all the dogs' names, not their owners, the dogs," she said.

"But there's so many now, and their wheelchairs are going backwards and forwards [between people who need them]; it's just never ending, but it's amazing."

The charity is one of four finalists in the animal category which is for specific animals who make a difference, or people or organisations who support animal welfare.

Winston's Wheels trustee Elaine Hockey became involved as her dog Ziggy has no back feet and carrying him in a stroller was too much for her.

"It's absolutely amazing just to be nominated; just to get our name out there will make such a difference to the charity," she said.

Another finalist is an actual animal - a horse called Bryn.

He is at the Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding near Hadleigh.

Valerie Ingham-Boor is a wheelchair user and one of his regular riders and said he was not fazed by people turning up on crutches or in wheelchairs.

"He's a lovely horse, he's kind and gentle; he will take anybody on his back and he will empathise with that person," she said.

"He knows when he has somebody who is a little more advanced in their riding technique and he will step his game up for that; he's so versatile."

Oscar the cat also makes it as a finalist, following a host of nominations from shopper who use the Tesco in Stowmarket.

He spends most of his days "paw-trolling" the carpark, although he does have an actual owner, Sylvie Nolan.

She said she was walking her dog when her cat tagged along and as they reached Tesco Oscar "decided it's his favourite place" and started to hang out there on his own.

"It's nice, really, for us that so many people love him and make a fuss of him," she said.

The fourth animal category finalist is Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue in Stonham Aspal, which has been running for 14 years.

Paula Baker, chairwoman of trustees, said: "What we're really about is looking after sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs, but we are also passionate about education and helping people to understand how hedgehogs behave and what they can do to improve things for hedgehogs."

Although there are signs the UK population of hedgehogs is rising slightly, the long-term picture is still one of decline.

"Hedgehogs are very seriously endangered. Their numbers have dropped from about 36 million in the 1970s, down to less than 500,000 today [across the UK].

"It's really important that we, as humans, do something to help them because they are fascinating and fantastic creatures."

Winners of the BBC Radio Suffolk Make a Difference Awards will be announced at a special event at Trinity Park, Ipswich on 4 September with a highlights programme broadcast at 09:00 BST on 5 September.

You can also watch videos of the finalists in each of the seven categories here.

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