19 November 2008

A disabled springer spaniel from Devon is back on his feet due to a specially-made dog wheelchair.

Before the pet was given the device he was unable to run due to health problems.

The nine-year-old pet, Max, had developed arthritis and hip dysplasia which led to him taking early retirement from his job as a sniffer dog.

Anne Higgins, inspector at Tiverton police station, approached a local inventor who created the device for the dog.

Ms Higgins states that the wheelchair has improved Max's quality of life as he is able to run again.

"They allow him to do a lot more and go further. He can get up a lot of speed and it can sometimes be quite difficult to keep up with him," she told the Western Morning News.

"He is a typical spaniel when he is after his ball he really goes for it."

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation reveals that the types of dog commonly affected by hip dysplasia are gun dogs such as Labradors and springer spaniels.