Life saver for old dogs who struggle getting up or down!!!

This is Mika, she obviously isn't the happiest of pups here. We've had a heck of a week.

Ah, much better picture of my beautiful supermodel fluffball. Believe it or not, she's 13, for her size that's 82 in doggie years. Overall she is in pretty wonderful shape and health. She's had mild bouts of arthritis off and on, but normally was back to normal in less than a week. Recently, she's been struggling a lot, and occasionally falling up or down the stairs when I take her out which is heart breaking enough (she's now on medication so fingers crossed), but I had to get her into my SUV to take her to a grooming and vet appointment last week. It was traumatic for both of us. When we traveled to Pennsylvania, I was relatively easily able to lift her in and out of the car. I mean she grumbled at me, but let it happen. Monday, oh no no no, she wasn't having it. She even nipped at me which is very unlike her. I tried a towel and finally had to get an assist from my husband. I was able to get her down by parking near grass and with a curb so it was a decently shorter distance, but I was still cringing for her poor sore body.

I was pretty distraught already, this was just for grooming, but she had to go to the vet Wednesday and I wouldn't have help so I had to figure this out. Now, hubs used her collar to control anymore nipping situations but with one person that wasn't exactly gonna work.

Fast forward a few hours, I go to pick her up all fluffified and smelling lovely, thinking thru the problem on my way, wonder if a harness would work, then if hey, they make a harness with a handle for this very reason. Amazon says they do. I ask in the shop, they don't have one there. Well drats. I parked like before so was hoping hard that we could easily get in the vehicle. Oh no no no no no. Miss Mika wriggled and wrangled out of my arms and fell on her back on the grass (she's ok), I check her out, had a nice lil' big meltdown all while being watched from people who pulled up at the moment of the ordeal. They offer to help, but I explain with her nipping earlier I didn't was to risk someone she doesn't know and trust trying to help. To make matters worse.....a flock of f-ing birds fly over and me, my freshly fluffed Miks and the vehicle are ridiculously covered. It was a fabulous day.

I went home and ordered this.

(I am in the Amazon Associate program so this is a paid link)

Wednesday comes around. I'm nervous. She's nervous and I have Rors in tow to boot. I easily get the harness on her, this act made possible by treats, took off the long strap you see, I didn't think I'd use it. She isn't happy but tolerating this new contraption. Take her out, give her a minute to take care of any business she needs to and let's do this. I position her so she can quickly get her front legs in and feel a bit in control and man what a difference. I guess the ordeal still upset her cause she sh*t in the back while we were enroute to the vet but nicely covered it with her towel. Getting out of the vehicle, man oh man we were both happy, she could jump like a spry young thing with me holding the handle and floating her gently to the ground. Victory. One more trip to make and it was the smoothest yet as we both figured that thing out. The relief!!! I cannot fully express my gratitude for this contraption.

Probably a year and a half ago I asked for suggestions for getting our Newfie, Jack, in and out of the SUV

I got many, and appreciated all of them, none however were that this harness existed. It pains me looking back, because it would have been so helpful in his last few months. That statement feel grossly understated. There was no way out of our home without at least 5 stairs, he would refuse to let me help him and then stay outside all night. It was an ordeal, if you've ever been through this my heart goes out to you. Hopefully this post will find the people who need it before they go through their own version of that tale!

Rors hopped in my lap as I'm finishing this post, saw Jack and said,

"Jack's heart makes my heart and your heart happy.

We love Jack."

I'm not crying.