12/10/2025
Please welcome Aiko to our family. 🫶🏼
Here is his story:
We received an email asking to help a dog with neurological issues as he was born with Distemper. His owner, Abby,, was in a horrible car accident that has left her in the hospital, unable to care for herself let alone Aiko so she had to find a place for him at her mother in laws for the time being. The mother in law was caring for a grandchild by herself and worked full time so Aiko was kept in diapers and in a play pen majority of the time. She could not care for him any longer so she was threatening to turn him into the shelter. This broke his owners heart and she began reaching out to rescues and organizations that could help.
His owner saved him after being kept in a kennel for the first year of his life. He saved her as well at a very low point in her life. As we spoke on the phone, it was evident that she only wanted what was best for him, even if it meant she had to give him up for good. She didn’t know what taking care of a special needs dog required. The despair in her voice was impossible to ignore.
We are overflowing with dogs in need and were definitely not prepared to add on another challenging case, but sometimes you’ve gotta stretch your limits to support well-meaning dog owners as well.
We want Abby to heal, knowing that her baby is safe and getting everything that he deserves. We reached out to our friends at The Be Like Josh Foundation to get some much needed guidance. Teamwork makes the dream work 😉 So here we are, ready to embark on a crazy new adventure and learn tons along the way.
Some info on Aiko:
He is a sweetheart with a zest for life! If there’s food involved - he will figure out how to get it. He loves people, dogs, outdoors and CATS!! He is being fitted for a custom wheelchair. We don't have a complete diagnosis of his condition yet, but we know his cerebellum was affected, similar to having Vertigo. His balance is off but when his brain is calm, he “walks” straight. His front legs are bowed due to not using his paws and legs as he should have so we are trying to correct that. He can go to the bathroom on his own. He does not need to wear diapers. Most often times he will tell you he needs to go, but you have to be watching him. He enjoys playing with other dogs and toys. He’s a total sweetheart, very deserving of a life filled with love and he gives it back in return a thousand times over.
If you are open to an adorable little guy with special needs or know anyone that is, please send us an email! [email protected]
