Faces of No-Kill: Meet the pink-wheeled pirate pup

Car rides, running full speed down trails at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, swimming, and even vet appointments are just a few of Josh’s favorite things. And he enjoys all of them in his stylish pink wheelchair. Best Friends caregiver Pete O’Dea says the pink reflects Josh’s softer side, while the jaunty Jolly Roger pirate flag flying on the back of the wheelchair lets other pups know he’s not some shrinking violet.

When this blocky-headed pup with stunning ice-blue eyes came to the Sanctuary, he was just a puppy. A very large puppy. And while he was brimming with joy and enthusiasm, his over-the-top greetings sometimes left people bowled over — literally. “He’s just always had so much gusto,” Pete says. “He just couldn’t quite control it yet.”

One of the ways caregivers helped channel that puppy exuberance was by giving him a stuffed toy to carry on walks. “That kept his mouth busy,” Pete explains. And then, when Josh faced more serious challenges with his mobility, he leaned on his caregivers once again to help him remain his happy-go-lucky self.

Josh's caregivers noticed he was having some trouble walking, and Best Friends veterinarians discovered he had torn ligaments in both his knees — the same kind of injury as an ACL tear in people. For large, energetic dogs like him, it’s often a gradual, chronic problem rather than one big accident.

A veterinary specialist came to the Sanctuary and operated on one of Josh’s knees. “The surgery was successful,” says Pete. “It’s just the knee was too far gone for him to recover well.” His other knee wasn’t a good candidate for surgery, leaving Josh with limited mobility and unable to romp around like before.

[Big love for little dog with wheels]

That’s when his caregivers, working with the Sanctuary’s veterinary team, decided to try a custom wheelchair. It was a game changer, giving Josh back his ability to run and play. Pete says Josh’s easygoing personality — and his sheer love of doing anything — made the transition seamless.

Today, Josh thrives on a steady mix of adventures and care from his caregivers and volunteers. He still brings a stuffed toy on walks, stopping at the toy bucket to pick out his favorite and then carrying it like a prize.

Weekly hydrotherapy sessions help with his strength and flexibility while keeping pressure off his knees. “When we get there, he bolts out of the car, runs straight inside, and hops right into the tank to wait for the water to fill,” Pete says.

He also delights in laser therapy appointments, which help to manage inflammation. He adores any and all time with his favorite people and, perhaps most of all, car rides. “He just loves riding in the car,” says Pete. “He barks happy little barks along the way.”

This pink-wheeled pirate also enjoys meeting new people. “We just want to widen his circle of friends,” Pete says. “It's fun for him to see different faces and do different things.”

[Spearmint Sally, a paralyzed puppy, gets back on her paws]

And for Josh, more friends just mean more chances to share his favorite things. “One of the best things about Josh is just how excited he gets for literally anything we're doing,” Pete says with a laugh. “Even going to vet appointments is a favorite thing.  Basically, anything we’re doing is his favorite thing.”

With a stuffed toy clutched in his mouth and his pirate flag snapping in the breeze, Josh is showing everyone that mobility issues don’t have to mean missing out on joy. In fact, for Josh, every day isn’t just a good day — it’s the best day ever.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.