Spicie the dog can’t walk, and needs some help getting a new set of wheels

Spicie the dog can't use her back legs, and that's not the only reason her first few years were tough.

"She spent most of her life at [a] Georgia shelter," says Rick Chaboudy, co-founder of Suncoast Animal League, a nonprofit shelter in Palm Harbor. "She was not exercised much because the shelter was ran by an older lady, with a bad back, who couldn't lift her into her cart."

That's all changed. Three-year-old Spicie left the Georgia shelter for Suncoast in January.

Now she's exercised several times per day, she gets lots of play dates with other dogs — she even got to boogie with young dancers with disabilities who take classes with REVolutions Dance Inc.

"This was a match made in heaven," says Suncoast volunteer Katie Mleczko, who coordinated this awesome engagement. "In true fashion, Spicie showed no fear and wheeled herself right on to the dance floor, greeted and licked all the kids."

That's right: despite what she's been through, despite her back legs not working, Spicie is a cheerful girl.

"Her kind spirit and spice for life is infectious," says Mleczko. "In your heart, you believe she can do anything. She certainly believes she can."

Spicie's injuries are likely due to a congenital problem she was born with, or because of early trauma. Either way, the end result is that vets say she probably won't ever have use of her hind legs.

In an effort to make Spicie even happier, Suncoast Animal League is buying the dog a custom-built cart that will help her get around more easily.

Her current wheels are a little too small, and a little too flimsy for her active lifestyle. "She has broken two harnesses and other parts since we've had her," says Chaboudy.

The new, bigger, sturdier, more comfortable cart, plus Spicie's medical expenses, cost $3,900. That's a lot of bones — and so Suncoast is holding a fundraising event that sounds like a lot of fun (and totally worthwhile, from a charitable perspective.)

You Walk so Spicie Can Roll happens Saturday afternoon (Mar. 4) in Dunedin. The walk will start at The Dog House of Safety Harbor and end at Crooked Thumb Brewery, which is like half a mile, so we don't want to hear you complaining about it being too hot or anything like that. There's a party afterwards at Crooked Thumb, which non-walkers can attend.

If for some reason you can't make it out, support Ms. Dog by sending photos of yourself walking your dog to spicierolls@suncoastanimaleague.org, and donating via the PayPal account on Suncoast Animal League's website.

But really, try to get there in person. Spicie herself will be at the event. Whether you're having a good day or a rotten one, you need to meet her.

"She never has a bad day, and her zest for life is contagious. She makes us all feel better about our day," says Chaboudy.

This article appears in Mar 2-9, 2017.