Woody Sisson and Lexi make good time on their walk around the block, though Lexi seems to have a leg up on her human companion. There’s something wrong with the nerves in her hind legs, so she uses a canine wheelchair.

“It’s like she’s got two drunk drivers running her back legs,” Woody said.

Lexi is 11 or 12, a mutt of some sort. Woody isn’t sure because Lexi doesn’t belong to him.

Years ago, at a dog park in Scottsdale, he met a woman named Mary, who fostered dogs. She had one named Teddy who hit it off with Woody’s dog, Pepper.

Because Mary worked long hours as a chef, Woody kept Teddy during the day.

“Pepper and Teddy were quite the couple,” Woody said. 

The old dogs died about four years ago.

“I needed a dog to walk me,” Woody said. Lexi belongs to Mary’s sister, Ann, who is retired and lives in Tempe.

Woody takes Lexi out once a day, sometimes twice, no charge. He has time because he’s retired from his work with computers.

“I should pay her,” Woody said. “If I didn’t have a dog to walk me, I wouldn’t do much of anything. I’m fortunate to have a dog who wants to walk me.”

He stops for her and asks, “Want to go for a walk?” Lexi drags herself to the patio where her wheelchair is kept, tail wagging furiously. 

They walk a half mile or so. “I follow her,” Woody said. 

He stands patiently while Lexi sniffs at plants and fences.

“We get our information with our eyeballs mainly, and they get their information with their nose mainly,” Woody said. They check out the world together. 

“It’s good for her, and it’s good for me,” Woody said.

Woody, who’s 75, has cancer. He’s being treated with immunotherapy, which has given him time. Lexi’s wheelchair has given her freedom.

Time and freedom. You don’t need much else when you’re out taking in the sights and smells.

Reach Bland at [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KarinaBland.

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