🌟 Pumpkin’s Story ❤️

We’ve had lots of new followers recently and so many lovely questions, so it feels like the perfect time to share Pumpkin’s story 🐾

We adopted Pumpkin when she was just 8 weeks old Oct 2021, and our family instantly fell in love with her. ❤️ From the start, it was clear something was wrong, she couldn’t use her back legs and had no control of her bladder or bowels.

Six local vets told us the same heartbreaking thing, that Pumpkin should be put to sleep. They said a disabled dog couldn’t live a happy life, that it was “unethical” to keep her alive. One even called me selfish, another said I was “stupid” for taking on such a financial burden. 💔

But when I looked into Pumpkin’s eyes, I saw something different, a spark, a determination to live. I knew she deserved a chance.

So, I shared her story online. It went viral, and thanks to incredible kindness from people all over the world, we raised the funds for an MRI scan. Sadly, the results showed that Pumpkin’s spine and legs had been broken, and her spinal cord completely severed.

We were devastated, the specialists confirmed Pumpkin would never walk again. But Pumpkin wasn’t in pain. She was paralysed from the waist down and double incontinent, yet full of life, joy, and fight.

Today, Pumpkin’s bladder and bowels are manually expressed by us, her family, every 3–4 hours. She wears a nappy at home and has regular hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and red laser therapy to keep her front legs strong and prevent injuries.

Pumpkin’s life is on wheels ♿️, and what a beautiful life it is! She’s a determined little warrior who doesn’t let anything hold her back. Her days are filled with adventures, cuddles, and smiles.

At just 9 months old, Pumpkin became a Therapy Dog, visiting care homes, schools, universities, and workplaces, teaching kindness, inclusion, and the important message that disability isn’t a death sentence. ❤️

Before Pumpkin, I had never met a dog in a wheelchair or wearing a nappy. I’ll admit, I was ignorant. But Pumpkin opened my eyes, and my heart, to a world that desperately needed awareness and compassion.

In June 2022, I founded Pumpkin & Friends Charity (No. 1199484), a registered charity dedicated to helping disabled animals and the families who love them. Together with our amazing trustees, volunteers, and supporters, we’ve helped over 4200 animals regain their mobility, confidence, and joy. We provide wheelchairs, harnesses, strollers, and financial and emotional support, all powered by love and determination. 💪

Then, in June 2025, we proudly opened Pumpkin & Friends Charity HQ, our very first Charity Shop, Office, and Wheelchair Fitting & Training Centre in Lincoln. This hub has become a lifeline for families across the UK, a safe and welcoming place to learn, share, and celebrate our incredible Wheelie Warriors. 💕

Our next dream is to build Pumpkin & Friends Animal Retreat and Respite centre, a home where disabled animals can live safely, happily, and with the love they deserve. A place offering respite care for families who need a break, knowing their “wheelie good friend” is in expert hands.

Because here, we believe:
Having a disability isn’t the end of the story, it’s the beginning of a brand new adventure. ❤️♿️

Thank you to every single supporter who believes in us, donates, shares, and cheers us on. You make all of this possible.

Pumpkin & Friends Charity 1199484
Changing the world wheel by wheel 🛞