Two-legged dog gives hope to disabled Army vets

Yahoo News ^ | Dec 16. 2009 | Sue Manning

[caveat emptor]

For several years, Jude Stringfellow and her Lab-chow mix have toured the country with a simple message: Faith walks.

Born without front legs to a junkyard dog around Christmas 2002, Faith the puppy was rejected and abused by her mother. She was rescued by Reuben Stringfellow, now an Army E-4 specialist, who had been asked to bury other puppies in the litter.

"Can we fix her? Stringfellow, then 17, asked his mom. "No, but maybe we can help her," she said.

[caveat emptor]

So Reuben turned Faith over to his mother, English professor Jude Stringfellow. At first the family had to carry Faith to keep her off her chest and chin. But with peanut butter and practice, Faith learned to walk on her two hind legs.

Today Faith is a brisk, upright walker. When she runs, every so often she adds a hop or skip to her step, but she stumbles less often than most humans. She takes vitamins and joint supplements, and vets have declared her very healthy, Stringfellow said....

Stringfellow will never forget a woman from New York who happened to see Faith on a street corner. She was depressed and had lost both legs to diabetes.

"She was in her wheelchair and saw us. She was crying. She had seen Faith on television. She just held her and said she wished she had that kind of courage." Stringfellow said. "She told us: 'I was on my way to pick up the gun.' She handed the pawn ticket to a police officer and said she didn't need it anymore."

[Secret Agent Man]

God bless these folks and God bless this dog. Never give up on your animal if you have to have a surgery that removes a leg or two, they will adapt and be happy. If it’s two back legs you can get carts (or make them) for all different-sized animals. If it’s one leg in the back it won’t slow them down very much, if it’s a front one it’ll be a little different because the front legs come down independently for steering adjustments (back legs work together running). But your pet just having you around and loving them, they will be happy and will find ways to motor on and be happy.

They mostly live in the moment and don’t get depressed about what they have lost. Unlike us. But it’s inspiring to see how happy they are with their problems and they just keep on going and making us happy. They keep giving us their joy.

[JLLH]

Great post, but if a front leg is amputated the animal generally brings that remaining leg to the middle and they do just fine. Animals truly are inspirational!

[Secret Agent Man]

Sure they will adapt, but their turning is going to be a little slower than before. They have to balance a little different and they can’t pivot and twist the same way when running on two front legs. But they’ll adapt just fine and be happy they can still run and play.

[caveat emptor]

Last winter I lost a dog I'd had for about 15 years, after a year and a half illness - large dog, wolf X, about 90 pounds or so. I got him shortly after I retired. We spent several hours a day for many years wandering the hills around where I live.

[American Constitutionalist]

This dog gives new meaning to living life to the fullest, but, with ObamaCare, this dog would have been put down for the greater good of the community.

[blam]

"Last winter I lost a dog I'd had for about 15 years, after a year and a half illness - large dog, wolf X, about 90 pounds or so. I got him shortly after I retired. We spent several hours a day for many years wandering the hills around where I live."

Oh yeah, I know...that's hard. Sorry to hear.

Click on my name to see my buddies.

[caveat emptor]

Oh boy! I don’t think I’ll have just one again, but maybe 5 or 6.

[combat_boots]

So sorry. It’s so hard, losing a friend like that.

I remind myself recently that there are so many dogs that need fostering or adoption. This economy has hit animals really hard. Shelters & rescue can’t keep up on food.

I have a friend who lost he special pet to cancer after 5 years. She did get another little guy, and now, she’s better.

Then again, I tell mine they have to live forever.

But, if I may, I suggest you go look at Petfinder or some other rescue site, just to look. There are so many that it breaks your heart. Especially the older dogs that people can’t afford to keep anymore.

[thefactor]

[thefactor]