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Once-Paralyzed Dachshund Runs In Wiener National Race

| Published on July 31, 2017

The 22nd Annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Dog National Races were held on Saturday, July 22 and contained an unlikely contestant: a Dachshund who was dumped at a shelter in Riverside, California on New Year’s Eve in 2014 for being paralyzed.

Luckily, the Los Angeles Dachshund Rescue gave Lady Bug another chance. After 4 months in a foster home, Lady Bug was brought to the California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE), where she started a months-long rehabilitation that involved physical therapy, acupuncture, and an underwater treadmill.

The CARE veterinarian leading her rehab, Dr. Deanna O’Neil, DVM, fell in love with Lady Bug and adopted her. Dr. O’Neil told PEOPLE Magazine:

“It took about two months of intensive rehab for her to be able to stand on her own and take a couple of steps unassisted. It was about six months to walk like a ‘regular’ dog without assistance when she wasn’t dragging.”

Here’s an interview with Dr. O’Neil with footage of Lady Bug running the race.

While Lady Bug didn’t win the race, she managed to complete the course in 45 seconds all by herself. Dr. O’Neil said:

“It was wonderful and so much fun getting out and talking about animal rehabilitation which I am passionate about. The main thing is to never give up. Never give up on these animals because their hearts are in it. All they want to do is make their owners happy, so if you’re heart is in it also, you can make it happen. That is why these rescues are so special. As long as they have encouragement they can do it. “

(H/T: PEOPLE)

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