When a breeder’s Great Pyrenees had puppies, there was one pup in the litter that the owner didn’t want. Halo was born with front legs that weren’t fully developed, so the breeder knew they wouldn’t make a profit off her. So, the non-profit organization Safe in Austin took the puppy into their care after she was abandoned in a box. The organization offers a safe space for animals who have special needs or were abused.
Yet, Halo’s front legs weren’t the only issue. One of her back legs was calcified and needed to be removed for her safety. So, the poor puppy was left with only one functioning leg.
A Safe Haven for Halo
At Safe in Austin, Halo received the love and care that her breeder wouldn’t give her. She had her damaged leg removed and her front two legs reconstructed. Halo went through a lot in her early months, but she kept fighting, and she was always full of joy despite it all.
As Halo grew up, she could crawl and hop around just fine. However, her humans wanted to give her a way to move around easier. All the dogs that need wheelchairs at the sanctuary have them, but Halo needed something special. Jamie, the owner of Safe in Austin, ordered prosthetic legs from OrthoPets for Halo to try.
“Her prosthetics are in and we are headed to get them fitted in a couple of hours. Our sweet baby born with two front nubs (half the length of a typical leg and missing parts of the bone), and only one working back leg, will become a full robotic tripod!” Jamie wrote in a Facebook post. “I’m so crazy nervous. It has been nine months, multiple surgeries, thousands and thousands of dollars, and one of the craziest most rewarding and special journeys with this sweet girl!”
Trying Her First Prosthetics
Someone from the organization took a video of the moment Jamie tried Halo’s new prosthetics on. Jamie was very gentle and kept reassuring Halo that everything was okay. Once Halo had both artificial legs on, she seemed confused. It took a lot of coaxing, but eventually, she stood up on them. She couldn’t believe how much taller she was than usual!
Then, after gaining some confidence, Halo walked around with her new legs. Soon, she was running around playfully and wagging her tail in excitement. She grew exhausted quickly, but she acted as if she’d had those legs her whole life.
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“I can’t believe it. The plan was just to introduce her to them today. It was never to even attempt walking. She had different plans. She didn’t just walk….. she ran!!!!” Jamie wrote in a Facebook post. “It’s been an insane rollercoaster of challenges and emotions over the last year. From the moment I brought this little wounded, four-week-old, one-legged, fluff ball home; I knew she was something special!”
In the video, a few other special needs dogs were running around. Someone from Safe in Austin assured everyone that the other dogs have wheelchairs, but they can’t wear them 24/7. Jamie kept pushing the other dogs away while Halo got comfortable in her prosthetics for their own safety, but they got plenty of attention off-screen.
Halo is an Inspiration!
Now, Halo is living her best life at the sanctuary with her new legs. To her, she’s no different from any other dog. She can play and run just like them, so she’s happy as can be.
Safe in Austin not only helps animals like Halo, but they also support humans. They encourage people to visit the sanctuary and bond with the animals. They especially encourage kids with special needs or abusive pasts to come to meet the pets because many of those kids feel comfortable socializing with an animal they can relate to.
“There’s been a long connection in history of animals bonding and providing comfort and contact for children,” said pediatric psychologist Dina O’Brien, Ph.D. “So, when children with special needs come here and they see animals with special needs, they learn that they can trust and they can hope and they can begin to heal in ways that sometimes you just can’t achieve with traditional therapeutic means.”
To learn more about Halo and the other animals at the sanctuary, you can visit Safe in Austin’s website.
Watch Halo Use Her Prosthetics for the First Time:
Featured Image: Facebook
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via Whisker Therapy