A special boot for a very special dog.
Back in October, we received a phone call from a lady called Dawn who was asking for some help with a boot. Not just any boot, but a boot with a difference!
Dawn had been recommended to Ingmans and asked us if we could make a boot for her poorly dog, Dottie. Dottie, a wonderful Golden Retriever, has cancer in her right rear foot and needed a special type of boot.
Dottie's cancer had attacked the structure of her paw and it looked quite normal until she put her full weight on it - and that's when things got complicated. Dottie's paw has turned outwards and loses strength during normal walking motion. It has also swelled and become significantly wider, which means it's lost the friction that would have historically propelled her forward.
Dawn had tried various 'off the shelf' dog boots, but they just weren't suitable - this needed a bespoke boot - a boot that would help Dottie get her mobility and quality of life back.
The challenge was to create a boot that would not only help Dottie improve her general mobility, but also allow her to resume her 'walkies' and playing with her brother that she's loves so much.
Challenge accepted.
We set out to help Dottie with no real knowledge in this 'Canine Shoewear' area, but we learned new skills as we went along this journey - although 40 years as a Cobbler certainly helped! We had to make a last (mould) to build the boot on, which had to be re-shaped several times until we got the right balance between its function in motion and its fit when Dottie's was laying down and her paw was not weight bearing.
Dottie's personality helped us enormously on this uncharted project, she is such a wonderful dog and I personally felt we became friends on her many visits to us here at Ingmans. Dottie always lifted her front paw up to me - it was like she was shaking my hand to say thank you for helping me!
It was an emotional ride, but we eventually got all the right elements in place and the boot fitted perfectly - more importantly it helps Dottie walk successfully without her showing any signs of pain, which is simply wonderful.
As it’s the season of good will to all men, we thought you might like this lovely story that we are so honoured to have been a be apart of - and we're SO pleased that Dottie is happily walking and playing like she used to.
Thanks to all our customers this year for keeping us going - we are nothing without customers and you guys are are the best customers we could wish for!
Compliments of the season to you all.
Best Wishes,
Andy
