Okla. children donate money for injured dog’s wheelchair

VELMA, Okla. – A group of fourth-graders raised money to help an injured wiener dog get a new set of wheels.

Johanna, a 5-year-old dachshund, was left semi-paralyzed and incontinent after a group of teens in Tennessee hit her with a baseball bat because, while chained to a tree, she wouldn’t stop barking. Rescuers at the Humane Society of Warren County, Tenn., took the dog and found her a new home in Fryeburg, Maine.

The children at Velma-Alma Elementary had been raising money to benefit disabled pets when they heard Johanna’s story on “Animal Radio.” They voted unanimously to donate the $423 they had raised to pay for the dog’s airfare to Maine and her new wheelchair cart, which was to be delivered Monday.

Johanna is regaining her health and appears happy, according to Deborah Winters of Handicappedpets.com.

“The owner said she has just not left her side,” Winters said. “She’s so attached, and she’s happy. She runs all over the house on her front legs, so when she gets the cart, she’ll just be amazing. It was so ironic that a class of children rescued her after what happened.”

Kathy Barton had been teaching her class about handicapped pets. She had adopted two Australian shepherds – named Hope and Faith – that were born “lethal white.” Such dogs are usually killed because they’re born blind and deaf because of a genetic defect.

Barton said her class has created inventions to help handicapped animals, including special glasses, colored lights to guide them to food and sound devices.

“My objective was for each one of the students to have love, respect and to protect and care for living things, regardless of the outside appearances or capabilities,” Barton said.

Barton said Johanna’s new owner, Lauren Smith, sent an e-mail thanking the children repeatedly.

“The main thing was for them to know they could make a difference,” Barton said. “I’m hoping it touched them and they’ll go ahead and build from there. And maybe it will help them with handicapped people, too.”