Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
SAUGUS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Eddie’s Ranch is not your average animal rescue. It's all about giving senior and disabled dogs another chance at life.
Lisa Mattuchio runs the shelter out of her home in Saugus. When visitors come to the door, dogs and cats run to greet them with tails wagging... some on two wheels.
“It’s kind of become a sanctuary,” Mattuchio joked with WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman. "But I can't say no! They need love and they need help so here I am."
Mattuchio currently houses 14 animals between her eight dogs, four cats, and two ferrets. All of her dogs, and most of her cats, are disabled.
She takes in animals that have a harder time finding forever homes and helps rehabilitate them before finding them a family.
"My goal is to take in dogs with disabilities, fix them up, get them walking and find amazing homes," she said.
Mattuchio spent her life working as an ICU nurse before switching gears to work as a vet tech for MSPCA- Angell. She says her expertise from working in the medical field gives her a big advantage when it comes to rehabilitation and treatments to get dogs up and walking again.
Mattuchio has been rescuing dogs her whole life, but decided to make it official last year in memory of a life-changing dog.
"He was my soul dog," Mattuchio said. “Eddie changed who I was to the core and he pushed me to become a rescue and be able to do it what we’ve always done."
She started Eddie’s Ranch in honor of her dog, Eddie, who passed away in 2021. Eddie was disabled and used a wheelchair to get around. During the pandemic, Mattuchio started posting videos of Eddie and his spunky personality online and before no time they grew a following.
“I think he would be proud,” she said. “I’m doing Eddie proud, I think.”
Eddie On Wheels has over 900,000 followers on TikTok. Mattuchio uses the platform to make fun videos with her rescues and show the world that disabled dogs want to play and have fun just like any other dog. They just need a little extra assistance.
Since April, Mattuchio has been able to successfully rehabilitate and find forever homes for 8 dogs and cats. She currently has one dog, who uses a chair to get around, that is up for adoption.
WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.
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