Slim and None

tellason:

A few of you out there will remember Jacqueline.  My boxer dog who was a huge part of my life pre wife, pre kids…  She had the heart and character of 10 good dogs and she seems to touch everyone she met.  Jacqueline was as fit as a fiddle but as she grew older, her arthritis got the better of her so we had a custom wheelchair made which gave her final year of life the dignity she deserved.  Well, 6 years later, the wheelchair was paid forward to Hero.  Here is his story from the new owner of this special animal:

Hi there,

My name is Colleen and I am the one with the 2 legged dog that you donated the wheelchair to.  I’m sorry it took me some time to send this to you but I really wanted to take my time to thank you rather than just send a quick note.  I can’t possibly thank you enough for this gift.  Hero (my 2 legged dog) is the most deserving dog and has overcome so much in his life.  I’m not sure how much Louise told you about him but I thought I would fill you in on his story a bit. 

 Hero was a stray in Taiwan when he was hit by a car and left paralyzed.  There is a rescue group there that we work with that saves these dogs off the streets and gives them the care they need.  Hero (he was named Super Dude there) was nearly euthanized because his wounds were so bad but he never gave up and was trying to walk.  They had some luck in the past with 2 legged dogs so they decided to amputate his back legs to give him a chance.  Luckily, Hero learned how to balance himself and walk on his two front legs.  The video they took after his surgery is what I first saw of him.  After almost 9 years in rescue I have seen the most horrifying things you can imagine and so I’ve developed a tough skin.  However, I sat at my computer crying like a baby, watching this brave dog learning how to walk again.  I could not get him out of my mind after that but I know that the rescue group (TUAPA) works with other rescues and I was sure someone else would fall for him the way I did.  Six months later and he didn’t have any adoption interest in him and I was still thinking about him.  He was sent on an almost 24 hour trip to arrive here, in southern california, and it was love at first sight.  He didn’t seem to know that there was anything wrong with him.  He is one of the bravest dogs I’ve ever known which is odd for a dog with such a handicap.  His best friend is a half blind and completely deaf aussie mix named Petunia.  They are inseparable and will play almost all day.  

You can look at his pictures and read more about him here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150149062056227.286037.308331651226&type=3
I hope you have facebook or at least access to it.  The rescue has a website too but it’s mostly in chinese. 

The wheelchair fits him perfectly.  We used some electrical tape to make it blue and we’ll be taking him and his new wheelchair to the OC pet expo so he can spread the word about our rescue, TUAPA, and handicapped dogs.  I’ve attached some pictures of him in his new wheels as well.  I have to thank you again for this amazing gift.  I was saving the money to get him one but they can be pretty pricey.  I was in shock when Louise told me that someone was donating one because she put an ad out for one.  You are both angels in my opinion so thank you, thank you, thank you a million times.  I’m sure I will be rescuing handicapped dogs for years after Hero but if I don’t need the wheelchair anymore I promise to pay it forward to someone else that needs it.  I hope we can stay in touch and I’ll send you updates.  

Thanks again!

Colleen and Hero