World's First Disabled Dog Park: The Lincolnshire Sanctuary Giving Disabled Dogs Their Best Lives
A unique sanctuary in Lincolnshire dedicated to caring for disabled dogs has captured hearts across the UK, with its founders having created what is believed to be the world's first disabled dog park — complete with a specially designed "learner driver centre" where dogs can practise using their custom-fitted wheelchairs.
Broken Biscuits, founded 18 years ago by Tim Giles and Cassie Carney, provides a specialised environment for dogs with mobility challenges, working in collaboration with Winston's Wheels, an organisation that loans wheelchairs to pets in need.
Background
Disabled pets are often overlooked in the rescue and rehoming system, with many people assuming that a dog with mobility challenges cannot enjoy a full and happy life. Broken Biscuits was founded to challenge that assumption, providing specialist care and equipment to help disabled dogs thrive.
Key Developments
The sanctuary's centrepiece is its disabled dog park, which features a "learner driver centre" — a smooth surface where dogs can practise using their custom-fitted wheelchairs before navigating a larger seven-acre park. The facility allows dogs to build confidence and strength in a safe, supportive environment before exploring the wider grounds.
The charity collaborates with Winston's Wheels, which loans wheelchairs not just to dogs but also to other disabled animals, including sheep. The story of Otto, a 13-year-old resident at the sanctuary, highlighted that with the right care and equipment, disabled animals can live long and fulfilling lives. Otto has been at Broken Biscuits for several years and continues to enjoy daily life at the sanctuary.
The sanctuary's mission is to normalise the perception of disabled pets and demonstrate their capacity for a high quality of life. Tim Giles and Cassie Carney have dedicated nearly two decades to this work, and their story was featured in Metro as an inspiring example of human compassion and dedication to animal welfare.
Why It Matters
Stories like Broken Biscuits remind us of the extraordinary capacity for compassion that exists in communities across the UK. By giving disabled dogs the chance to live full, active lives, Tim and Cassie are not only helping individual animals but also changing attitudes towards disability in the animal world.
What's Next
Broken Biscuits is always looking for volunteers and donations to help fund the specialist care it provides. The sanctuary welcomes visitors who want to learn more about its work. More at Metro.
