Injured farm dog Ali, becomes TikTok sensation after rounding up sheep from wheelchair

by Warwick Long

Farmer Paul Diamond had a custom-fitted wheelchair made for his beloved kelpie, Ali.(TikTok: @pinnaroopaul)

When Ali, one of Paul Diamond's "best workers" was badly injured in a traumatic farm accident six months ago, the idea of giving up on the working dog was too hard to bear.

But this week, the story of Ali's journey from spinal injury and paralysis to mustering sheep again has become an international sensation after a video of the wheelchair-bound kelpie amassed more than one million views on social media.

"About six months ago she had a traumatic spinal injury where she got backed up against a race by a sheep, and from there it went downhill and she lost the use of her back legs," Victorian farmer Paul Diamond said.

Mr Diamond is first to admit that five-year-old Ali has always been a favourite, and to have her back on the farm this week rounding up sheep has filled him with pride.

"I can't believe it. It's working," he said.

"I was blown away that she could zoom through this paddock and actually get around the sheep and not just do it for the bits and giggles, but actually be quite handy."

The wheelchair allows Ali to round up sheep despite a farm accident six months ago.(Supplied: Paul Diamond)

New wheels for the job

Mr Diamond and his wife, Adelaide, who farm at Mansfield in Victoria's high country, took Ali around to multiple vets in search for a way to improve her quality of life.

When they discovered a business in South Australia that specialised in building custom-fitted wheelchairs for dogs, they knew Ali had a chance at a new lease on life with some semblance to the one she knew.

"She was still keen. Her ears were perking up and she was in the back of the ute and she just wanted to get out and get around them but obviously she couldn't without the use of her back legs so we just converted wheels for legs," Mr Diamond said.

With a few directions like, "way over" and "go behind," Ali was back on the job, wheels and all.

"Next minute she was flying around the farm again," Mr Diamond said.

"These dogs they don't get paid. They get fed and they become part of the family and we are in debt to them.

"They are as good as three working people on a farm every single day, so the least I could do is give her that chance."

A wheely famous dog

Farming life can be isolated and lonely, so Mr Diamond has taken to filming a lot of his day-to-day adventures.

"I just film it for my family," he said.

"My missus isn't there with me every day so I just wanted to show her and say, 'Look at this'."

But over a few beers on a Friday night, Mr Diamond decided to upload Ali's exploits to social media platform, TikTok.

In 24 hours the video attracted more than one million views, with messages pouring in from around the world in awe of the working dog on wheels.

"People were saying, 'Good on you', 'What a new lease on life', 'This is beautiful', 'I'm crying', 'You're a quintessential Australian'," Mr Diamond said.

"It was so positive."

Ali's health is not perfect but Mr Diamond is glad she has a great quality of life and is back to doing what she loves.

"Who knows what's going to happen with this dog in the future but we're going to go as long as we can, as hard as we can," he said.

"And when the time does come, because it is going to come, we will know that we gave her a new life, a new experience and we did our best and that's the best we can do.”

First published at ABC News Rural, August 30, 2023