Tracey Fowler of Mendon, Vermont has dedicated her life to helping pups that most others would walk past in animal shelters
Since she lost her beloved German Shepherd Hayden, she has focused on growing her new pack, and now they’re eight strong.
Meet The Fowler Herd, a pack of special needs pups, and ones that were struggling to get adopted, but here they’ve found a forever home.
Speaking to Bored Panda, she said “Hayden crossed the Rainbow Bridge after a battle against a dog illness called degenerative myelopathy.”
He was a special needs dog and suffered from paralysis in his later years caused by the brutal disease.
But Tracey says that didn’t break his spirit, and Hayden continued playing, right up until his last day.
After Hayden passed, Tracey decided to make a difference to other dogs like him, in honor of his resilience.
“I currently have eight pet dogs. Six being special needs and 2 being [German Shepherds I had before adopting the others.]”
The Fowler Herd not only enjoy all the love and affection Tracey provides them, but they also get on well with each other.
When it’s snowing on the farm, Tracey likes to swap the wheels on each of their chairs for skis so they can continue playing outside.
“If you are afraid of poop and pee, maybe adopting a special needs pet is not for you. If you’re OK with it, honestly, it’s no different than if they were walking.”
“If we are able to show one owner there is another option besides saying goodbye [to their sick pet], then that’s what our goal is.”