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“Silver Linings” Discovered in Adversity for Wounded Veteran and Injured Dog

| Published on August 13, 2019

Wounded Veterans – the reality of the world we live in today. Some are missing arms and legs. Others are missing friends and teammates. All are missing a part of their life that they will never get back. Joshua Ferguson, one of five team members to survive an IED blast that took out their vehicle, is one of those warriors enduring on.

Yet in these tough times, one must always look for the positive. “There’s silver linings to anything, you can find something, and even if you can’t, somebody’s had it worse. So stop complaining.” Joshua Ferguson states in an interview with Alexandra Koehn of WTVF Nashville as he discusses with her the IED attack that took his leg.

Enter Scooter, a puppy with a survival story of his own. Only 12 weeks old, Scooter was rescued by fishermen and brought to Dickson County Humane Society in Tennessee. He was in bad shape, with one leg appearing to be bitten off, and another badly injured. Thankfully, through generous donations, over $1,800 was raised to help! Scooter was able to get the treatments he needed. His stump was removed, and his other leg was reset.

https://www.facebook.com/HumaneSocietyOfDicksonCounty/photos/a.737768636318580/2283792638382831/?type=3&theater

And when Dickson County Humane Society began looking for someone to foster Scooter and help him with ongoing physical therapy, Joshua Ferguson wanted to help. It only makes sense that these two end up together. After less than a month, Joshua formally rescued Scooter, officially bringing him to his fur-ever home.

https://www.facebook.com/HumaneSocietyOfDicksonCounty/photos/a.737768636318580/2298527010242727/?type=3&theater

Focus on The Journey…

The two are an inseparable pair. Both are missing a leg, but not letting it slow them down in the slightest. Most recently, Joshua received a gracious offer…Scooter is getting his very own prosthetic leg! In the meantime, Joshua and Scooter have taken up yoga to help with both the physical and emotional healing from the trauma. And, as anyone with a fur baby knows, the magic of that bond between them is working wonders as well. It reminds you to enjoy the little things in life, and to simply, be happy. As Joshua puts it, “He makes it easier for me to remember, hey it’s still a beautiful day. You realize really just how tremendous a journey life is.”

And it is with this mindset that he and Scooter, his new rescue puppy and best friend, start down the path to become a therapy team. Their goal? To help others that need to find that silver lining. One step at a time.

https://www.facebook.com/HumaneSocietyOfDicksonCounty/photos/a.471077439654369/2346034905491937/?type=3&theater

Want to help? Find a shelter near you! There are plenty of friends just waiting to come home with you. They want a fur-ever home, just like Scooter. If that is not an option in your current situation, find somewhere to volunteer! This is a great way to get snuggles with all the loves at the shelter. It also helps them relax, which helps them find their new families. No time? Donations of food, equipment, toys, or simply cash are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Reach out to a shelter near you!

H/T: MSN.com
Featured Photo: Humane Society of Dickson County/Facebook

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