There are few bonds stronger than that of a boy and his dog.
When Jonathan Peter English, an 11-year-old Boy Scout in Cazenovia, noticed his 16-year old Italian Greyhound “Juliet” was unable to walk properly because of poor eyesight and stability, he immediately began to think of ways to help.
Using a few pieces of wood, screws and training wheels from his old bicycle, English built a canine-sized wheelchair with his father, Calvin, in about an hour.
“I just really didn’t want her to die,” English said. “I didn’t want her to suffer. Juliet is already blind, deaf and incontinent. She falls a lot and the incontinence medicine made it worse. So I designed and built her the first wheelchair this August.”
The prototype English built this summer was recently replaced with the updated model. The earlier apparatus was built with found wood, nails and wheels gleaned from an old television cart. He said it took him about three weeks to develop the wheelchair from his plans. After first attaching Juliet to the device, it took her about five minutes to adjust.
“We stopped that medicine because she was falling so much we were talking about putting her down. That’s when Jonny got the idea for the wheelchair,” said Jonathan’s mother, Renee English. “When he first put it on her she was hesitant, and then when she started to fall and realized it caught her, she went rolling down the driveway!”
The newest version is equipped with a harness, a wider base and adjustable wheels, to accommodate Juilet’s balance when nature calls.
Although he built the wheelchair three weeks ago, he admits to already having modifications in mind for a third model. His next design will include a padded supporting crossbar and footrests for the dog’s hind legs.
For his ingenuity and determination, English was allowed to properly attach a Scouting Badge to his Boy Scout uniform. Attaining the badge is a two-step process. The boys are first given the merit when they officially become Boy Scouts and have shown mastery of the pledge oath, motto, scout sign, salute, handshake and other requisite items to their Scout Masters. The badge is pinned to uniforms upside-down, and remains that way, until the scout exhibits a good deed.
Troop 18 Scout Master George Schmit allowed English to attach the patch rightside-up upon seeing the positive impact the wheelchair had on Juliet. English will discuss his good deed with fellow scouts and officers at the Cazenovia Boy Scout Court of Honors assembly on Feb. 9.
Juliet participated in Cazenovia’s third-annual “Strutt your Mutt” dog fashion and talent show Sep. 16, 2011, in Cannon Park. She competed sans-wheelchair, dressed as a Cazenovia Laker cheerleader, and took home the prize “Best in Show.”
English also owns a turtle and said his sister Elizabeth (who is a cheerleader at Cazenovia High School) has a beta fish, but he hasn’t developed any assistive prostheses for either. Currently in sixth grade, he is most interested in art, science and Greek mythology.
In the coming months, he looks to continue to enhance his design and construct a new model for Juliet.
Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338 or [email protected].
