Maryland Woman Struck With ALS Has Her Spirits Raised By Beloved Pet Store’s Donation of ALS-friendly Leash, ‘This leash is just showing him that I’m still there’

There are tens of thousands of people living with ALS in America, a progressive disease that affects the brain’s motor neurons. Many living with ALS will need help managing symptoms with medications, physical therapy, and wheelchairs. One Maryland woman adopted a pup that changed her life in more ways than one. She used to love taking him on a walk but soon after she was diagnosed with ALS and now has to use a wheelchair. Now, a pet store is making her dreams come true, as well as her dog’s!

Going on walks in San Francisco was an enjoyable activity Brooke and her dog, Dray, were frequently doing. That stopped with Brooke’s ALS diagnosis. Because of Dray’s small statute, adaptive leashes that left him tangled were a no-go. Brooke took initiative when she heard about popular pet company Chewy’s ‘Chewy Claus’ program. She wrote a letter in Dray’s voice to the company, hoping Chewy could create a leash that wouldn’t get stuck in Brooke’s wheelchair, and Bold Lead Designs were soon put on the case!

Luckily for her, Brooke received a goodie box from Chewy, which included toys, treats, and a hand-drawn portrait of Dray. More importantly, it included an adaptive leash, which attaches to Brooke’s wheelchair, and allows Dray to walk with his “momma.”

Katrina Boldry, a leash design expert, speaks in the video about the leash. She says, “Hands-free control is really important for people that have disabilities because it gives them a sense of independence.”

They made a bar that clips onto the wheelchair and has a small leash that attaches to Dray’s collar. It keeps him from being tangled and makes it easier for them to enjoy their favorite activity together.

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It’s the sweetest thing when Brooke asks Dray, “You wanna go for a walk?” and he responds by happily trotting alongside her. As Brooke says, “This leash is just showing him that I’m still there, still the same leash-holder I’ve always been. This is one less time I have to ask someone to help me do something I used to do by myself multiple times a day in my normal life.”

They definitely made a huge difference in Brooke and Dray’s life in the best way possible. But apparently ‘Chewy Claus’ wasn’t finished. Chewy also donated $10,000 to others suffering from ALS, according to Good News Network. And good on Bold Lead Designs for creating an ingenious leash!