Innovative Racetrack Gives Disabled Dogs New Freedom
In the picturesque Lincolnshire countryside, a unique learner driver center operates with a special clientele: excitable dogs racing around on wheels. This is the heart of Broken Biscuits, a disabled animal rescue charity that founders Tim Giles and Cassie Carney proudly call the "world's first disabled dog park."
A Sanctuary Born From Compassion
The couple established their charity eighteen years ago after witnessing a heartbreaking reality during European travels. "We saw how many stray puppies were paralyzed and then euthanized after being hit by cars," explains Cassie, a veterinary nurse. Their mission began with spaying and neutering clinics across Moldova, Bosnia, and Romania before fate intervened with Otto, a shih tzu-yorkie cross whose back legs required amputation after a car accident.
Bringing Otto to the UK in 2009 alongside two other dogs marked the beginning of what would become a sanctuary for twenty disabled canines. "We made a lot of mistakes initially," Cassie admits. "Fitting wheelchairs is a complicated art that requires constant adaptation, especially with shelter dogs who are often undernourished and need adjustments as they gain weight."
The Revolutionary Training Ground
The couple's breakthrough came from a simple observation. "When you get a dog fitted into a wheelchair in strange surroundings like a park, they often just stand there," says Tim, 58. "We discovered tennis courts worked best for fittings because they provide tarmac, fencing, and space to run."
This insight inspired them to create their revolutionary seven-acre facility. Dogs begin their journey at the learner driver center, where they practice navigating obstacles and building speed on tarmac surfaces. Once they've mastered their wheels, they graduate to the main park area featuring grassy expanses, stables, small houses for timid dogs to retreat to, and grassy mounds that advanced wheelchair users can climb and race down.
The Wheelchair Revolution
The importance of proper wheelchair fitting cannot be overstated. "If you get the wrong equipment, you put the dog off," Cassie emphasizes. "A wheelchair that rubs against their body or overheats in the sun breaks trust. You've spent money on equipment but feel like you've failed them."
Their work has been enhanced through collaboration with Rachel Wettner, founder of Winston's Wheels charity. Rachel knows firsthand how transformative wheelchairs can be after being told her Staffordshire Bull Terrier Winston needed euthanasia in 2017 due to a spinal tumor. "He couldn't use his back legs but was exactly the same dog from the waist up—cheeky and playful," she recalls.
After a stranger loaned her a wheelchair through social media, Winston enjoyed three additional years of life. "He took to it straight away—doing dog shows, paddling in the sea. It was a total game changer," says Rachel, who now runs a charity that loans wheelchairs to thousands of dogs and even some disabled sheep.
Changing Perceptions
Care for disabled dogs has evolved significantly in recent years, partly thanks to popular media representation. "It's not unusual to see a dog in a wheelchair now," notes Tim. "When we started, people would stop their cars and call it cruel when they saw Otto in his chair."
Cassie adds: "Disabled dogs often get placed in a 'freak show' category labeled 'too difficult.' We want to normalize disability. Nearly all pet parents will have their dog become disabled at some point—through accidents, strokes, or aging conditions like arthritis, cancer, or Cushing's disease."
The charity has partnered with Team Tactics, which runs corporate days where participants build wheelchairs while learning about disabled dogs. "People fall in love with these special dogs instantly," Rachel observes. "Seeing how wheelchairs transform lives creates amazing reactions."
Thirteen-year-old Otto serves as living proof that disabled dogs can enjoy long, fulfilling lives. Though currently experiencing heart failure, Cassie reports he "still looks and acts like a puppy." As Tim reflects: "Life rolls on, and we're glad to help dogs and their owners navigate these challenges together."
