Firm creates rides for all kinds of pets

WHIDBEY ISLAND — There were no accommodations made for the disabled on Noah’s ark. The wheel was relatively new at the time.

But today, mobility problems can be solved by pet conveyances such as those made by K9 Carts in Freeland on Whidbey Island.

The company outfits dogs and cats, but also has made carts for a ferret, a hedgehog, sheep, goats, hamsters and guinea pigs. A Bernese mountain dog that lives in snow country got skis.

A miniature horse in Maine likely will get wheels.

They’ve even made carts for chickens and turkeys. Two-legged pets are fitted with a four-wheel apparatus and the bird sits in a sling between the wheels, using one good leg for propulsion.

Barbara Parkes, the cart-maker owner, says, “everything is a challenge.”

Sadie, a 10-year-old black Lab with severe arthritis and virtually no use of her rear legs, now has her own chariot with 12-inch pneumatic tires.

She’s gone from a tail-dragger to romper room.

Suzanne and Dennis Reynolds brought Sadie to K9 Carts.

After a few adjustments for height and front-to-back balance, she was ready to scoot.

Her rear toes barely touch the pavement, and provide a bit of propulsion. Strong front legs give her the mobility she lost.

Some dogs never adapt, a very small percentage. But Sadie took to her wheels immediately. She loves to run.