Why I Forgave the Person who Made my Dog a Tripawd

I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I’ve adopted my new “son” Brody who has faced difficult challenges in his young life but an absolute joy to have in our family.   In Spring 2015 I was contacted by a good friend/wonderful Humane Officer, J, who told me about a dog in need of a home.   Since J knew my husband, Ed,  and I were actively searching to add a new “brother” and “son,”  she thought of me for this “special-needs” boy.   After reading her message, I knew this young pup belonged with us.   I’m not one to adopt young pets since they normally have no problems finding homes but this little guy was simply perfect.   After meeting him a few days later,  Ed and I looked at each other as we played with him in his foster home and nodded our heads in unison that he was the one for our family.   He was the new brother for our Jazz who had endured two bouts of cancer and permanent kidney issues from the chemotherapy.   Jazz’s health had been stable but he was lonely when we weren’t home.

So now our family was complete.   Sadly, Brody had to adjust to a new life in more ways than one.   Inside his former home,  we came to learn he was tethered.   He was also tethered outside for extended periods of time.   He was kept outdoors in all types of weather including the rain, snow, and cold weather .     Brody was only a few months old when he was tied on a regular basis to his owner’s car when he went into a store.   People saw him and reports started coming in to the rescue.  Not only was Brody tied outside at the store,  he was abused by his owner in public.   People reported seeing him with a sling on his front right leg.

When J went to Brody’s home,  she found his leg dangling and in obvious pain.   He was never taken to a veterinarian for help.   Instead, he was given ibuprofen.  His leg was broken.   For how long, no one knows for sure but it wasn’t a new break.

There were many versions of how Brody’s leg came to be broken.   The truth is that his former owner kicked him so hard,  the purposeful, abusive action broke his leg.   I can’t imagine the pain he endured from this cruel act and not receive any help.  I can only imagine him screaming when the abuse occurred.

I don’t know how Brody didn’t have any organ damage after given ibuprofen on a regular basis for the pain.    The damaging effects of this drug include blood flow being inhibited to the kidneys eventually causing kidney failure.   It can also interfere with compound production that protects the stomach’s inner lining causing severe stomach irritation leading to ulcers.

After concluding Brody was okay from the ibuprofen which was a miracle in itself,   the vet made the decision to amputate the entire front leg up to and including the shoulder.   When we met him,  he was wearing a t-shirt to protect him from the surgical site.

Brody had already mastered walking on three legs because the broken one had been useless.   He will never remember that he once had four legs because he was so young when abused.

Brody inside our car. He will never be tethered to a vehicle again.

As part of our family,  he would never know abuse again.   He would only know what it is to be loved.  Despite this, Brody’s trust issues last for quite awhile.   He loved us and Jazz but he remained independent.    If we would raise a hand near him,  he thought he was going to be hit.   If I yell for any reason (but not at him), he would and still hides.

Ed and I are beyond thrilled to have Brody in our family.   I never saw him as a “disabled” dog.   Tripawds have an easier time running than walking.   And he loves to run!    When he walks,  he hobbles and his missing leg is very noticeable.   Dogs put 70% of their weight on their front legs.   He has learned to change the balance of his body by placing his front leg in the center when standing.   He even turns his paw toward the center for better balance.

Within a month of adopting Brody,  my husband rushed to my side while Jazz and I were on the recliner watching television one evening.   Brody was screaming out in pain for no apparent reason.   I sat on the floor where Brody slowly walked over to me.   He gingerly leaned his body into mine.   I didn’t know what was wrong.   As I attempted to change positions,  Brody literally screamed in pure agony again.   He had been given tramadol for his amputation so I decided to give him one.  It eased his pain but he saw his vet the next morning.   His pain stemmed from his spine adjusting to the missing limb we were told.   Brody experienced a similar incident approximately a month later when he yelped out in pain whie doing nothing.    He was put on meds to help plus he would have to start a glucosamine supplement when he turned one.   He also takes essential fatty acids.  These are to help his joints which are affected by not having a front limb.   It is vitally imperative to keep a tripawd at a healthy weight, exercising and in good health.

Brody running in a shallow pond.

For a long time,  I would be so angry at his former owner when I looked at Brody’s missing leg.   I was  mad that a person could kick a dog so hard because he was enraged with him and forcibly break his leg!    How could he allow him to suffer by not getting him help?    Why did he want a dog only to keep him tied up outside in all kinds of lousy weather?   How could he and roommate/girlfriend (?) give him ibuprofen?  Brody is beyond fortunate not to have permanent kidney damage or worse.

Brody was subjected to abuse on a regular basis.   Tying him to his truck while his owner went shopping showed the arrogance and the uncaring nature of the man who demanded the return of his dog after rescue spent their money to have Brody’s leg amputated.    Abusing him in public showed the complete disregard he had for his own dog.

How cruel all of this was to Brody.   Brody was a puppy and he acted like one.   He was/is adventurous and athletic.  He needs and wants to go for his daily walks.   He LOVES to play.  He and I play hard with his squeaky toys,  ropes and our socks!   He loves to play tug-of-war.   He loves to hang from a rope with his mouth.   He weighs 16 pounds but acts like a much bigger dog.   He was left alone for long periods of time.    His former owner didn’t understand the activity level of Brody and how important it was to be active with him.    Instead,  he tethered him to control his behavior.   What a lonely life he had.   To be tied up outdoors and indoors is cruel and unjust.

As irate as I was that Brody has been forced to live his life on three legs (and for a very long time, I hope) and never enjoy the feeling of four legs from the start of his life,  I also have come to a point that harboring resentment toward the man who committed these acts does nothing to serve Brody in a positive way.

Being mad will allow the abuser to win again.   I’ve taken my anger and not only let it go but I’m also using that energy and putting it to much better use to help Brody and other animals who have been abused.

Brody’s former abuser didn’t receive jail time.   Animal abuse is a felony in all 50 states but it doesn’t mean anything since most abusers receive no jail time or pay a large fine.    I want to see this change!

I’m tired of the slap on the wrist to those who commit animal cruelty.   It’s time for the abusers to go to jail for a substantial period of time to pay for the consequences of their crimes.    Fines need to be increased as well.   I believe if these two changes were implemented,  fewer people would abuse their pets knowing the real price they’d have to pay for doing it.  Judges need to take animal cruelty more seriously as well.

Brody is doing very well.   He trusts us completely now.   He is one happy dog!   He sleeps behind my head sharing half of my pillow.   When he plops behind me,   he plops hard because of his missing leg.   I love the feeling of the back of his head behind mine as we sleep.    If there’s one thing he wants and loves to do it is playing!  He wakes up ready to play.  He goes to bed ready to play.   He will play in the middle of the night if you engage him.   If he finds a sock,   he’s ready for tug-of-war.   He loves car trips.   He wants to see everything we see.    This boy understand so many words that we spell them out so he doesn’t know what we’re saying.   Brody makes me laugh so hard because of his silly antics.

When we were searching for a dog to adopt,  I knew the characteristics I wanted and Brody possesses all of them.   He’s still independent but he doesn’t want to be alone anymore.    And I don’t want him to be alone.   Brody’s life is good and fulfilling.   He will never know what abuse is again.    Because of the man who brutally kicked him and caused the amputation of his leg,  we now have this exciting, intelligent, and loving boy in our lives.   It is a twist of irony that his former owner created our new family and I only hope and pray the man never, ever hurts another animal again.

Have a story, please email me at tevangelistaepp@yahoo. Like my tv page at https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues.