Struggling to walk her dog from her wheelchair, woman with ASL wrote to a pet company for help — their holiday surprise left her speechless
Life took an unexpected turn when a San Francisco woman who loved walking her dog was diagnosed with a disability. Supported by a wheelchair in her daily life, the new normal became challenging for the pet owner to accept. However, one thing that she failed to make peace with was the walks she enjoyed with her pet dog, Dray. She was not ready to give up just yet. When one opportunity came up, the owner, Brooke Eby, seized it and penned a heartfelt letter to a pet company granting holiday wishes.
Eby was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which left her wheelchair-bound and living on the kindness of others. She missed her once independent life, where she would eagerly go on long walks and hikes with Dray, her adopted senior rescue dog, as reported by the Good News Network on November 9, 2025. Determined to continue enjoying her daily walks, she tried out adaptive leashes for Dray. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells, affecting motor neurons, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Finally, the right opportunity changed her life for the better. Chewy Claus, a pet company, was making holiday wishes come true, and Eby realized it was her chance to find a solution to her daily struggles. She poured her heart out into a letter in Dray’s voice, opening up about the walks they both enjoyed and "took for granted" before the unfortunate diagnosis. "I would love to ask Chewy Claus for the chance for us to go on a walk again without the leash getting stuck in her wheelchair," the letter read. It was only a matter of time until the owner’s prayers were answered. Eby’s letter became the first doggie wish to be granted by Chewy Claus for their annual letter-writing campaign in Potomac, Maryland. Soon, she opened her door to a big basket of gifts and a custom wheelchair accessory that made their daily walks a piece of cake.
“Dray has seen me be less and less active, and this leash is just showing him that I’m still there, still the same leash-holder I’ve always been,” Eby shared. However, she was thrilled by the new development in her life and thanked the pet company for their heartwarming gesture. “This is one less time I have to ask someone to help me do something I used to do by myself multiple times a day in my normal life.” Simultaneously, the pet company is donating $10,000 to an ALS advocacy group called Team Gleason in an effort to support pet owners with ALS. They will offer resources and create awareness among people to fully embrace life, no matter what, just like Eby did.
Chewy Claus has turned heads with their elaborate and persistent contributions to help pets across the country. Their letter-writing campaign is accepting letters from anyone with a paw, claw, fins, wings, or hooves until December 24, 2025. The pet company has pledged to donate $10 million to shelters and rescue animals across the country, and provide five meals per day to pets in need since 2022.