Dare – the two-legged Sheltie

Hi there! My name is Dare and I’m a pretty special boy (at least my mommy tells me so). I’m a normal, sassy Sheltie boy that has had an amazing life so far. I love to run around my backyard chasing my Sheltie brothers and wrestling with them in the house. I fetch a tennis ball and bring it back to my mommy (most of the time). You have to look closely at me to see that I really am different than most other dogs. I only have two legs – front and back on the right side. Yep, you got it. They are on the same side of my body. Don’t tell me that I’m handicapped or disabled and don’t feel sorry for me! I don’t need it, nor do I want to hear it. I’m sassy and bratty and definitely in charge in my house! All my brothers stay in line of my command.

I was born with all four of my legs. Unfortunately, I was born in a puppy mill. My back left leg was bitten off by my mother when I was just a few days old. You see, dogs become cage crazy in puppy mills after being kept in a cage their whole life without feeling grass under their paws, being held by a human, or loved unconditionally like we should. My front left leg was caught in the cage wiring and twisted, then broken in several places and dislocated at the elbow. I was not taken to the vet to fix my front leg or given any pain killers to ease my pain. I am a tough guy, but everyone has their limits. I lived with the pain until the puppy mill decided to give me (at the last second as a throw in) to the Kansas Sheltie Shack Rescue when I was ten weeks old. They said to the Rescue lady that they couldn’t sell a “damaged” puppy. I know that I was lucky to get out of there alive. I was then transferred to the Colorado Sheltie Rescue because my injuries were so bad.

The Colorado Sheltie Rescue spent the next four months trying to repair my front leg. There were nine pins in my front leg to hold it together and in place. I also had a cast on my leg to protect it. I was fast even with only two good legs! I got so adept at walking and running on my two legs that I never really put that front leg down other than to use it as a kickstand when I went potty.  Unfortunately, this caused the bone to deteriorate and when the pins were removed; my leg broke again when I put weight on it. So, unfortunately, it had to be amputated.

My foster mommy had a hard time keeping up with me because I was so fast. Unfortunately, without the cast as a kickstand, when I found just the right spot to potty, I would fall over because I couldn’t stand upright without some help. So, the rescue decided to put me up for adoption to a very special person. So, I went to live with my new forever mommy after my leg was amputated. She must be special because she adopted me even though I had only two legs. She thought I was pretty special too I guess.

My new mommy LOVED me! She told me every day. She told me that I was in my forever home the day I came to live with her. I was her little man from the moment I stepped my two feet in her house. I needed some special care, but I also was treated like a normal dog. To be honest with you, I was a little spoiled when I got to her house. I would bark at her to pick me up and carry me where I wanted to go. My foster mommy did, so I thought she would too. But she would look at me and tell me “You’ve got two legs and know how to use them. You can walk yourself.” So, I did. I am very independent now. I’m the boss! Nothing slows me down! I got used to my new home real quick. I could go anywhere really since her house is all on one level. Mommy put a water bowl up next to the wall, so I could lean on the wall to drink water standing up. She put rugs all over the slippery kitchen floor so I could around real easy.

Since I don’t go for walks like a “normal” dog (I actually ride in a kid’s stroller), I need to get exercise some way in order to keep my body slim and trim and my muscles strong and healthy. So, I go swimming two times a week. Just so you know, I do NOT swim in circles. I swim straight as an arrow! Being a Sheltie, I was not a natural born swimmer, but I learned really fast!

I’ve had to deal with many setbacks and obstacles in my life; too many to get into in a short story. My mommy never gives up on me through everything I go through and need, so how can I give up on myself? I just keep going.

My mommy thinks I’m pretty special and that I have a message to send to those who will listen. So, we became an animal therapy team! My mommy and I started visiting amputees, veterans, senior citizens, children with disabilities, and adults with multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries at four different facilities. I really enjoy my visits with everyone we meet. I just love seeing them smile and hearing them laugh when I do something cute. And who are we kidding, I also LOVE the attention! We’ve been a therapy team for nine years now. I accept everyone I meet no matter their disability just as they are and they accept me with my disability just as I am. No questions are asked. No weird looks are given. We just accept each other as we are. People say I inspire everyone I meet. I’m not sure about that, but I know that I make people feel good about themselves when they see me. They can focus on what they can do instead of what they can’t do. I sure love my job as a therapy dog! I was born to do this! I calm the children we visit and I inspire the amputees we meet since I have gone through many of the same issues as they have including prosthetic devices, infections, and multiple surgeries.

When someone meets me for the first time or when my mommy talks about me, they ask her “How does he walk?” She always responds with “I have no idea. He has two legs, a luxating patella, and no hip joint. He has amazing balance. He goes because no one tells him he can’t and if they did tell him that, he wouldn’t listen to them anyway.” She’s right. I just go. She also tells them that the only thing holding them back from what they want to do is….themselves. I go because I know nothing different and I have the “anything you can do, I can do better” attitude. 🙂 When people learn everything that I have been through, every setback that has challenged me, every obstacle that I have overcome, they are encouraged and motivated to get on with their own life. I could whine, cry, be negative and miserable, but I’m not. I’m a pretty happy guy. Give me a soft bed, a good bone (I love to chew on bones), and another dog to boss around, and I’m happy!

I really have had an amazing life. I’m almost 12 years old now! Things have settled down in the last 8 years or so, but I’ve still been through a lot. I have amazing ABILITIES. No disabilities here. That’s what my mom says anyway. Nothing slows me down. I go for walks. I run. I play. I wrestle. I chew on bones. I boss my doggie brothers around. I fall down and get right back up like nothing happened. I’ve adapted. My mommy takes me outside for potty and holds me upright every time I need to go. She’s amazing too. Did I tell you that? My mommy is always there for me. I am one lucky guy to have her around. I just want to everyone out there to know that you shouldn’t let things get you down and that you can beat anything that life throws at you. You just have to stay positive.

I have a charmed life. 

Love,
Dare