Pet of the Month: Oatmeal

Hit the trail with Oatmeal a sweet 4-year-old wheelie dog shepherd, Anatolian mix currently at Austin Pets Alive! She is a calm and gentle creature with a weakness for pets and treats. Her love for cuddles is bound to warm your heart. She is also a social bug who loves a crowd.

She is an exceptional pup and a staff favorite at Austin Pets Alive!. Not a lot is known about Oatmeal’s past life, but we know she arrived at APA! with a chronic spinal injury that led to paralysis in her hind legs. However, she is resilient and doesn’t let her paralysis stop her from living her best life.

Oatmeal is a very chill dog who enjoys toys, walks, and cuddles. She also loves meeting people of all ages and has the potential to live with another dog.

Taking care of Oatmeal does not cause much trouble; she just needs some help going potty. This is a straightforward technique that can be taught quickly. She also uses a wheelchair to go on walks, but using a sling to pick up her hind legs and place them in the chair makes this process smooth and easy. An ideal home for her would be one where she can easily enter and exit with her wheels and navigate by scooting around without risking getting injured or falling. Having designated areas for her would be preferred while she becomes accustomed to the new environment.

Oatmeal is a member of the exclusive Ruff Tail Runners, a group of dogs trained to walk or run on Lady Bird Lake. This little off-campus activity allows these dogs to get a nice break from their kennels and showcase them in front of many trailgoers to help them get adopted. During her trail walks, Oatmeal loves to sniff around and engage in her favorite sport, squirrel-watching, which she’s quite proficient at.

She is a great companion for an active person and will sit by and motivate you while you’re working on your mobility or completing an ab circuit. She is also an excellent reminder of resilience and willpower. Nothing can stop this sweet pup from sharing her love with everyone, no matter how tough things might get, motivating everyone around her to keep pushing in whatever challenge they may face

Oatmeal is ready to “roll out” of the shelter in her pink wheelchair and into a loving home. If you’d like to foster or adopt Oatmeal or any of our adorable adoptable pets, visit our website, austinpetsalive.org, or come in person at 1156 W Cesar Chavez near downtown Austin.