'It's his livelihood': New Brunswick man with cerebral palsy has bottle cart stolen
Last Sunday evening, Don Haggerty was getting ready to go for a bottle-collecting run when he noticed something was missing.
He went to his shed where he usually stores his black plywood cart with the words Black Betty, his favourite song, written on it.
“And it was gone,” said Haggerty.
The 51-year-old has cerebral palsy, but is very active. He gathers bottles for some spare cash to help feed his cat Mittens.
Haggerty built the cart by himself 22 years ago when he lived in a tiny apartment.
His friend Edith Breau said Haggerty was quite disappointed when he realized Black Betty had been stolen.
“He called me at home. He was upset and he was crying. I can understand because it's his livelihood. It's all he ever does,” said Breau.
Someone recently stole Don Haggerty's bottle cart. (Source: Derek Haggett/CTV News Atlantic)
Going around Moncton’s west end gathering recyclables is more than just collecting a few dollars; it gives him a sense of purpose and helps him both mentally and physically.
“It's to keep his mobility going. He's got to keep doing it,” said Breau. “He picks them up, he keeps his hands going, he collects bottles. He's got to count them. It keeps his mind fresh for counting.”
Haggerty said he has to keep going because of his cerebral palsy.
“If I don't keep moving, my muscles tighten up and my mobility goes way down,” said Haggerty.
He lives on his own with a little bit of help, but Haggerty is very independent.
He's passionate about gardening and his beloved Montreal Canadiens.
The neighbours all know him as a kind, caring person who works hard.
After his cart was stolen, Michelle Ward and her husband, who live up the street, decided they would help get a new one made for Haggerty so he could get back on the roads collecting bottles again.
“Don has been our friend for 10 years if not more. I feel like the crime rate has gone up around town and I think it's absolutely disgusting that people are stealing necessities from hardworking people like Don," said Ward. “Don is a good-hearted person and he's probably one of the best people I know.”
Someone recently stole Don Haggerty's bottle cart. (Source: Derek Haggett/CTV News Atlantic)
Ward and her husband were in the process of building a new cart when their friend Justin Shaffer stepped in.
Now, all the material needed is being supplied and paid for by McSheffery Industries, a Moncton-based company where Shaffer works, and he’s putting the finishing touches on Haggerty’s new cart.
Haggerty is thankful to his neighbours and everyone who has offered support and he gets emotional when thinking about all the people who have stopped by his house this week.
“That made me feel very good,” said Haggerty.
Breau said her friends has got a lot of close friends supporting him.
“He's damn lucky,” said Breau.
Haggerty insists he'll pay for the cart, at least for some of it, when he receives it later this week.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Airlines' challenge of Canada's passenger protection rules rejected by Supreme Court
The airlines have failed in their challenge of federal passenger protection rules.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
WestJet ordered to reimburse B.C. passenger for hotel, despite claim bill was 'excessive'
WestJet failed to convince a B.C. tribunal that a woman whose flight was delayed for three days spent an "excessive" amount on a hotel room, and the airline has been ordered to pay her full bill.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
RCMP recovered 115 out of 205 lost firearms, 2 machine guns still missing
More than half of the 205 firearms lost by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since 2020 have been recovered, but two machine guns remain missing.
Economic experts call it 'terrible policy,' but most Canadians support expansion of Old Age Security benefits: Nanos survey
Amid new polling indicating most Canadians support boosting Old Age Security benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74, a former Liberal finance minister and former Bank of Canada governor are warning the government not to pursue the policy change.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Parliament 'ground to a halt' over Conservative allegations of Liberal corruption
Government business has been put on indefinite pause in the House of Commons and the Conservatives say it will stay that way until the Liberals hand over documents related to misspent government dollars.
DoorDash driver who appeared to spit in Ontario man's drink removed from platform
A DoorDash driver who was caught on camera appearing to spit into an Ontario man’s drink has been removed from the platform, the food delivery company has confirmed.