Tottee-Pottee at Bhalubasa in Jamshedpur. Picture by Animesh Sengupta

Jamshedpur, Aug. 13: Tottee-Pottee is now like any other dog — merry, mischievous and vigilant.

The four-and-a-half-year-old member of a family of pet lovers in Bhalubasa has been able to mock a congenital deformity in her hind legs and move about freely, courtesy a gift of a wheel cart from her doting mistress.

The contraption — arguably the first of its kind being used in Jharkhand — is made of alloy steel for swift movement and attached with soft leather belts to comfortably saddle the user.

“I have no words to describe my happiness,” gushes 30-year-old Anuradha Singh, a dietician and Tottee-Pottee’s favourite human playmate in the family of 12, including four canines. “To watch her play with other dogs in the house is absolutely satisfying,” she said.

The Singhs have a Rottweiler named Vicky, a Labrador called Tiger and an Alsatian and stray mix adored as Candy, besides Tottee-Pottee.

Anuradha said they found Tottee-Pottee in an alley behind their house over four years ago. “She looked sick and could barely walk. We later discovered that her hind legs were paralysed. She was a very sorry sight and we decided to adopt her,” she recalled.

However, watching the puppy drag herself on the floor or remain curled up in a corner, while the other dogs frolicked around, pushed the family to seek treatment. “We took her to every vet we knew in the city. All of them said that Tottee-Pottee’s complication was incurable and she should be left to her own fate,” Anuradha said.

Finally, elder sister Kanchan, now married and settled in Delhi, found Dipak Mahto, the veterinary officer of Jusco Veterinary Hospital. Mahto told her that Tottee-Pottee was suffering from a congenital deformity called paraplegia, which impairs motor or sensory functions in the lower half of the body.

“It is not exactly curable, but I asked them not to lose hope. Kanchan Singh had had the dog vaccinated against all viral diseases, but we were not being able to tackle the real complication,” he told The Telegraph.

Not willing to give up, the Singhs frantically searched for a solution — on the web and otherwise. They, finally, zeroed in on a New Delhi-based agency that specialised in manufacturing carts for pets.

“Kanchan dashed to Delhi in June this year and contacted the agency. She came back with the contraption costing Rs 8,000,” Anuradha said.

Mahto said this was the first time walking wheels were being used for any pet in Jharkhand. “I have never come across such a handy gadget in 22 years of my service. Tottee-Pottee is hale and hearty. She can move freely and is keeping good health,” he added.