A leg for a leg……
Christmas 2020 was definitely memorable for all of us. Some of us celebrated more quietly but nonetheless, Christmas is a still a wonderful time of year.
And my independent but needy dog, Brody, proved it. Many loving pet parents splurge for presents to put under their real or artificial, pre-lit, green or pink gorgeous Christmas tree and I’m no exception. Four-legged best friends have been a part of my holidays since I was a little girl when I thought I could coax my beagle/bird dog mix to talk to me. Taking Prince to a bedroom didn’t convince him to utter any words to me but I still believed.
I still do. Brody is different from any other dog I’ve ever had and I’ve had great dogs! All of my dogs were smart and loved them and still do all equally. With Brody, I’m on uncharted territory. He is beyond smart and very intuitive.
While I’m accustomed to all of my dogs being responsive to me, Brody presented something new. When he was adopted into our home and family, he had just had his front right leg amputated due to an abusive situation by his former and only previous home.
Brody was kicked so badly, his leg broke and was never seen by a veterinarian. His broken and useless leg was put into a homemade sling where he was seen while being tied to his owner’s vehicle outside of different stores for at least a month. Kind and caring people contacted a shelter who took immediate action and removed from his cruel surroundings.
Brody taking care of his buddy
photo/Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein
Their veterinarian said the broken leg wasn’t fixable. Within a week of losing his leg, Brody and I met along with my husband. We visited him at his foster home. Within seconds of greeting each other, I knew he belonged in our family. One nod and a glance to my husband and Brody would be in our family. Brody also knew since he wouldn’t stop interacting and playing with us from the moment we arrived. We all knew!
For our trip home, his foster mom gave us a toy she had given Brody during his stay with her, a hedgehog. She said it was his favorite. And we found out just how much his buddy meant to him.
At home waited our other dog, Jazz, a small black poodle who had lost part of his jaw to oral melanoma. Jazz nearly died from the effects of chemotherapy. By a slim miracle Jazz somehow survived. His oncologist didn’t expect that. She credited us for his survival. Brody was finally at a stage where he was stable and happy. He was a happy boy and never stopped playing despite suffering so badly. It was now time to add an addition to our family.
Brody fit right in our home. However, he wasn’t completely trusting of people and we understood why. The one thing that gave him security was this hedgehog. He clung to it every day. He carried it, he nurtured it and he slept with it. Brody didn’t see it as a toy. He was especially gentle with his companion. Brody kept his distance at night, not sleeping next to anyone except his hedgehog. It was clear this stuffed animal was an integral part of his life.
When our tripawd became more confident, he didn’t need his buddy any longer. This took time but when it was time, Brody went all the way and destroyed it!
photo/Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein
It was time for Santa to bring him a new hedgehog. Brody was as excited as children seeing their presents for the first time Christmas morning! He barked and whined until I let him open one gift in particular. It was an indestructible ball that lights up. He wasn’t interested in his other presents. By the time I handed him his last gift, he was tired and had to be coaxed to unwrap it. Once he smelled what it was, he ripped it open!
From that point on, there was no interest in the other presents. The once-rambunctious pup was now quiet, calm and holding onto his new hedgehog. He kept him by his side as he lay on his own bed.
I thought by the next day, Brody would return to playing with his other gifts. Nope. That hedgehog remained with him at all times. There was an unusual quietness in my home where there is normally a noisy dog wanting to play or barking at anyone who is outside of my home. He only wanted to stay on his bed with his hedgehog.
Brody is a very active dog who plays every day. Day after day, Brody only had interest in his new friend. He carried him in his mouth even as he did his business outside.
It was so apparent that Brody remembered his first hedgehog and the calm and reassurance it provided him when his life was turned upside down. He not only lost his leg, he lost the only home he never knew but also found himself in a foster home to only be replaced by a new permanent home. The one constant in his life at that time was his hedgehog. The hedgehog represents calmness during the most horrific time of his life.
photo/Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein
Here’s Brody sleeping with his companion on his old and new beds. (bottom) Brody holding onto his best buddy on his bed.
photo/Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein
For Brody it was having his long, lost friend back into his life again. He doesn’t like parting with it. I’ll wake up with Brody sleeping by my side with the hedgehog at my head.
photo/Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein
In a weird and bizarre twist, Brody did chew off one of the hog’s leg/foot. What blew me away was that it is the same leg that was amputated on him- the right front leg! He never chewed any other parts!! Is that bizarre or what?
I have no doubts Brody remembers the abuse he endured at the hands of someone who clearly didn’t care that he allowed his dog to suffer with no medical intervention. From the time Brody began his life with us, he had a strong dislike for motorcycles. I strongly believe either his former owner or neighbor had a motorcycle. Whenever he sees or hears one, he gets so angry!
If he has memories of a motorcycle, he most definitely remembers the abuse he endured! While some “experts” say dogs do remember, there are other “experts” who say they don’t. I believe you rely on your own instincts and what you see with your own dog to decipher if he/she has held onto memories of the past. There are certain triggers for Brody that you know was from his past.
What’s important is that Brody has his long, lost buddy with him again and he’s enjoying the time together. That is, until he decides he no longer needs him and destroys him! Brody plans to have a Happy New Year with his hedgehog!
Happy New Year! Let 2021 be the ray of sunshine that all of us need!
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer, and an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the television show, “A Close Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her tripawd, Brody, who was a formerly abused pup who lost his leg because of cruelty inflicted upon him. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https:www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookatAnimalWelfareIssues and be sure to check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com
What a precious story about Brody. He’s very lucky to have you and your husband but unlucky to have through this terrible abuse. He had to hold onto something that was a constant in his life, his hedgehog. Thanks for sharing his cruel past but heartbreaking and heartwarming story. He now has the best home!
You’re awesome to adopt him. Some people might not want a tripawd. So glad you’re not one of them
Brody is precious to us. We’re the lucky ones to have him but we also take very good care of him. He knows he’s safe with us.
When I saw he was a tripawd, I wanted to adopt him right then and there. He endured horrific abuse and I wanted him to know there are people who will love him and not hurt him.
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Brody’s lucky to have you. Who would cause so much harm to a puppy that his leg had to be amputated? Don’t you just want to punch that owner? I mean I def would! At least Brody is right where he belongs. Loved your story’
No I don’t want to punch the previous owner. I decided to forgive him a long time ago. Otherwise, I’d walk around with anger in my heart and that would be of no use to Brody. I’m human and I think about what he has endured but I make sure he gets all the love and care he will ever need. I don’t want him to remember his past and only think of the present and knowing how lucky we both are to have each other.
Thanks for the kind words, Ben. Appreciate it!