At Chase Farm, dogs rolled, hopped and hurried toward the finish while medals waited at the end. One race honored dogs using wheelchairs; another was for three-legged competitors. The gathering existed because of Joey, a Chihuahua mix born without front legs on Christmas Day in 2021.
Vintage Pet Rescue’s fifth annual “A Special Day for Special Dogs” brought 300 dog lovers to Lincoln, Rhode Island. Along with wheelchair and three-legged races, the fundraiser included races for blind and super-senior dogs, crafts, food and a costume parade for dogs and their handlers. Participation mattered more than placement: dogs received medals, with those in the three-legged race bearing the words “Four Legs are Overrated.”
Joey’s path to that field began when the Connecticut Humane Society contacted Vintage Pet Rescue cofounder Kristen Peralta. The organization did not know what to do with the puppy, so Vintage Pet Rescue brought him into its cageless home for unwanted senior and special-needs dogs.
Nurse Cathy Larson adopted Joey when he was 6 months old. We saw a picture of him and fell in love with him. Why wouldn’t you? He gives more than he gets. He gives so much, Larson said.
Named for the way he hopped like a baby kangaroo, Joey became more than one successful placement. Peralta has said he was the reason the rescue created the annual celebration. He later became the subject of a children’s book by Peralta, appeared in People, competed in the televised Puppy Super Bowl and visited schools and summer camps for the Humane Society.
The event Joey inspired now reflects the scale of a rescue that began with modest expectations. Peralta met her husband, Marc, while volunteering with a Los Angeles rescue group as he helped open an animal shelter there. After returning to her native Rhode Island, they started what they thought would remain a very small operation.
Peralta said Vintage Pet Rescue has saved 1,435 dogs since 2017 and now takes in about 200 each year. Among the adopters at the celebration was Ellen O’Neill with Francine, her adopted 15-year-old dog. Chris Hohn, who repeatedly adopts Yorkies from the rescue, brought another example of a late-life second chance: Goldie was adopted at 12 and was 16 at the time of the gathering.
What a senior or special-needs adoption can require
The races made mobility differences visible without suggesting that every dog needs the same support. A wheelchair that helps one dog may be unsuitable for another. Guidance from the American Kennel Club notes that cart type, size and design depend on the individual dog’s condition, body and activity level. Proper fit is important to help prevent pain or sores, and a veterinarian or certified veterinary physical therapist can advise owners on an appropriate device.
Age also does not define one uniform set of needs. The American Veterinary Medical Association emphasizes that age itself is not a disease, though older pets can require additional physical, mental and health care. Regular veterinary examinations may identify problems before they become more serious.
For prospective adopters, that means looking beyond affection alone. The home may need accessible food, water and resting areas, better traction on slippery floors, or a more predictable routine. Veterinary costs and the time needed to monitor changes in mobility, appetite, weight, behavior and bathroom habits also belong in the decision.
Quality of life remains individual. The American Animal Hospital Association recommends watching comfort, pain, movement, appetite, awareness, social engagement and interest in familiar routines. Its assessment tools are intended to support not replace conversations with a veterinarian.
Vintage Pet Rescue’s adopters make those calculations knowing that an older dog’s remaining time may be limited. A lot of people that adopt dogs from us realize ‘OK, this dog may only have six months. We’re going to make it the best six months for that animal, Peralta said.
At the heart of Joey’s celebration is that deliberate promise: not a guarantee of years, or an easy road, but a safe place for whatever time remains.
Have you ever adopted a dog with a story like this? Share it in the comments.
By Jake Patterson — Freelance feature writer and former animal-shelter volunteer focused on rescue, adoption, and second-chance dog stories.
