Get to know the inspiring tale of Oscar and Thu, a heartwarming account of affection, empathy, and mobility aid for animals with disabilities ??.
Meet Oscar Fernando Ruiz Bonilla and his wife, Anh Thu, who reside in Ho Chi Minh City and have dedicated their lives to helping disabled animals from all over the world. They have managed to steal the hearts of the online community by crafting customized wheelchairs for pets with mobility issues. The couple can be seen every day on Bung Ong Thoan Street in Thu Duc City, taking their furry companions for a walk. They have over a dozen cats and dogs, more than half of which have disabilities.
Oscar’s journey in Vietnam began when he opened his Colombian restaurant six years ago. In 2019, he met Thu, who has a passion for animals and runs Forever Wheelchair, a center that specializes in creating wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs for animals. The center also raises funds to rescue and care for abused, abandoned, and disabled pets.
One of their beloved rescues is Ca Chim, a puppy who lost his legs and was abandoned on the streets two years ago. Oscar recalls how thin and aggressive he was when they first found him. But the couple took him in, gave him a name that translates to “Bird Fish,” and designed a wheelchair for him to improve his mobility.
Tina, a poodle who was born with diabetes, is another addition to their loving home. Despite her paralysis, the couple designed a customized wheelchair for her, allowing her to live a fulfilling life.
The kindness and dedication of this couple have touched the hearts of many animal lovers worldwide. They have become a beacon of hope for disabled animals everywhere.
The couple not only has canine companions, but they also have four feline friends. However, two of them have been affected by polio. Their mission to help animals doesn’t stop there. Oscar and Thu have saved around 300 cats and dogs along the way, providing them with a chance for a better future.
Oscar experiences great joy in seeing a paralyzed pet recover mobility with the assistance of a wheelchair. Although they would love to welcome more animals into their home, space and caregiver limitations have led them to concentrate on finding loving homes for their rescued pets.
Every day, Oscar and Thu bring their furry family members to the local park, where each pet has a unique name and interests.
Initially, the couple funded the production of wheelchairs for injured and paralyzed animals from their own pockets. As their initiative increased, they began searching for outside funding and selling their custom-designed products to other pet enthusiasts.
Oscar teamed up with partners to produce wheelchairs that assist disabled animals. With no formal training programs available, he dedicated himself to mastering animal anatomy, assembly techniques, 3D printing technology, and other relevant skills. He even took a break from his restaurant business two years ago to focus solely on this compassionate endeavor. Today, their wheelchair products are distributed to the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
To get a customized wheelchair for their furry friends, pet owners can submit a video that demonstrates their pet’s disabilities and dimensions to Oscar. The process usually takes around three days to a week, and the costs range from VND 2.5-6 million ($109 – $261.61).
It is worth mentioning that a fraction of the earnings made by the couple goes straight to animal rescue centers in Saigon. Their goal is to create approximately 15 wheelchairs every month, providing hope and freedom of movement to animals in need across the globe. This inspiring journey of Oscar and Thu demonstrates how love, empathy, and commitment can bring positive changes to the lives of our beloved pets. ?❤️