A puppy has captured the hearts of many with his unbridled spirit and unshakeable love. This puppy, born without front legs, has been lovingly taken in by a foster dad who has helped him thrive and find joy in life.
Despite his physical limitations, this little pup is full of energy and loves nothing more than snuggling up with his human companion.
The puppy had been born without his front legs. And while his mother accepted him, Nubby didn’t have the strength to get past the other puppies to eat.
“His siblings were pushing him out of the way. He would have perished,” Lou Robinson, Nubby’s foster mom, tells The Dodo. “He came home with me.”
Robinson is a longtime animal rescuer based outside Houston, Texas, and the founder of a group called warriors Educate About Rescue.
Robinson teaches classes about compassionately caring for animals and puts out a calendar featuring Texas firefighters with rescue pets.
Nubby, in other words, is in good hands. And, frequently, on a good shoulder that shoulder belonging to Robinson’s husband, Mark.
Their relationship is a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human and animal spirit.
The couple researched to find out how to keep this newborn puppy alive.
They learned, for example, that Nubby would have to be bottle fed at an incline to ensure that the puppy formula wouldn’t be inhaled into his lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia.
“Day three came and went, day seven, day 10, day 16, and Nubby thrived. He thrived” says Robinson. “His eyes opened, his ears developed, he found his sounds, smells, and voice.”
And then, one Friday afternoon, just a little over three weeks after he’d arrived, things worsened.
Nubby was sneezing. He wasn’t poop and he was blowing milk bubbles out of his nose. He didn’t seem to want to eat. “Nubby was going down hill” says Robinson.
X-rays revealed that Nubby didn’t just have the dreaded pneumonia. The 3-pound pup had an “esophageal abnormality”. “He had a pocket form in his esophagus trapping his milk.” says Robinson.
He struggled to breath, but Robinson saw he “was picking back up.” “Nubby was not giving up. He was fighting.” she says. “And as long as he has a chance at quality of life, we will fight to give him that chance.”
Nubby is back home now with Robinson and her husband. He just turned five weeks old. Until he is a little bigger, the doctors can’t probe him enough to determine the extent of his esophageal abnormalities . They don’t know if they are permanent and severe if they can be treated, or if he’ll grow out of the worst. “We have no idea.” says Robinson.
Many people might look at this little puppy and feel sorry for him, thinking he is somehow limited or unable to enjoy life to the fullest.
But in reality, this puppy is just as capable of experiencing joy and love as any other dog.
He may have to adapt his movements and find creative solutions to particular challenges, but he is no less deserving of a happy and fulfilling life.
She likes the silly faces he makes while he sleeps. Then he wakes up and wants to play, play, play.
She likes to think about keeping Nubby. Having him grow up to be part of warriors Educate About Rescue. He could go to schools and teach about animal welfare. Help kids learn that it’s OK to be different.
That’s what Robinson’s hoping for. It will depend on a lot of good luck.
Nubby doesn’t seem to realize that he’s any different.
He is smart and active. He is learning to do an army chawl and is trying to get up onto his back legs by pushing off from his face. Nubby seems frustrated “pissed off” is how Robinson puts it not yet to have mastered this move.
Nubby is “very happy, needy, and rotten already.” Robinson says. “Life finds a way.”
For his foster dad, caring for this puppy has undoubtedly been a rewarding experience.
Not only has he been able to provide a loving home for a furry friend in need, but he has also witnessed firsthand this little dog’s incredible resilience and spirit.
Source: newsprq
