By Sally Stang, Special Writer
NEW HOPE — A couple in New Hope, Pennsylvania, played Santa this year to a needy charity for pets by donating a brand new Ford mini-van. This was no ordinary charity and no ordinary van!
Evy and Ted Inoue spent over a year revamping a Ford transit van into the Waggin’ Wagon as a promotional vehicle for their business, “OurKudos,” named after their dog, Kudos.
Kudos, a basset hound-cocker spaniel mix with a magnetic personality, inspired the design of the van. The van is wrapped to look like Kudos — brown and white, furry black eyebrows, furry black ears that flop over the side doors, a red tongue that sticks out of the grill, and a white, fluffy tail. The painted eyes are on shades that are rolled up when in operation.
”OurKudos was a website where people could share their appreciation — their kudos for others— in a variety of ways,” said Ms. Inoue. “Unfortunately, it didn’t catch on the way we hoped, and we decided to close the company.”
The loss of their beloved dog to Lyme disease, at age 3, in December 2011 was the biggest factor in the Inoues’ decision to close the business.
The Waggin’ Wagon sat in their garage for a year. Instead of selling the van, which was originally worth $25,000 before customizing, the couple decided to donate it to a place they felt deserved their biggest kudos.
Ms. Inoue was inspired after seeing a feature on the “Today Show” about a sanctuary, “Pet With Disabilities,” that rescues and adopts blind, deaf, and wheelchair dogs.
After seeing the wheelchair dogs, Ms. Inoue thought, “Dogs on wheels! It’s a perfect fit for the Waggin’ Wagon!”
The Inoues’ phone call was met with disbelief from the “Pets With Disabilities” founders, Joyce Darrell and Mike Dickerson, who were overwhelmed by the offer.
Before the Inoues’ donation, they had to squeeze the dogs and their wheelchairs into a 1996 Saturn wagon on their many visits to the veterinarians. Plus, they needed a vehicle for their many outings to educate adults and children about disabled pets.
”There are Labrador rescues and greyhound rescues, but there was never a disabled pets rescue. Handicapped animals needed us to give them a voice. And that’s what ‘Pets With Disabilities’ does. Finding loving people who will open their hearts and homes to an already disabled dog is the greatest reward,” said Ms. Darrell.
The tiny nonprofit organization — whose catchphrase is, “Because their spirits aren’t broken” — is fostering 25 dogs at its facility in Prince Frederick, Maryland. They can only afford to run “Pets With Disabilities” through the generosity of others.
”We love that we are a small part of that,” Ms. Inoue said. “The thought of ‘Pets With Disabilities’ driving around in the Waggin’ Wagon, spreading the love of disabled pets all over the country, is how we keep the spirit of OurKudos alive.”
For more information on disabled dogs available for adoption, to make a donation, or to find out how you can help, visit PetsWithDisabilities.org.

