A puppy named Joey was born without any front legs, but he doesn’t realize he’s different. He still has just as much love and energy as any other young pup. Yet, since his needs are a little more complex than the average puppy, he needed a special place to call home.
So, Joey is currently staying at a senior dog sanctuary, where he’s bringing “new life” to the elderly and terminally ill residents. The organization named him Joey because he looks like a baby kangaroo when he hops on his hind legs!
Puppy Joins Senior Dogs
Joey was born in December 2021 with no front legs. He was part of a litter in Connecticut, but his owners had no idea how to meet his special needs. So, they contacted the local humane society, which suggested Vintage Pet Rescue in Foster, Rhode Island.
Vintage Pet Rescue specializes in dogs over 14 years old and dogs with less than six months to live. However, they’ve recently started taking in special needs dogs too, so they were happy to help Joey. He’s the first two-legged dog they’ve worked with, but they’re always open to new challenges. They’ve had many creative ideas for pet care in the past, such as using a dummy to comfort the senior dogs.
Despite his challenges, Joey is a happy pup who loves to hang out with his older roommates. He’s especially close to a senior Chihuahua named Bloo. Bloo has a terminal illness, but he acts like a puppy again when Joey is around. Joey is an adventurous pup who’s always willing to learn new things to help him get around.
“Joey is now able to go up the stairs to get onto the couch. He loves standing on his back legs and playing with the other dogs. In a month or two, Joey will be fitted for a custom wheelchair so he’ll be able to run around as much as he wants,” said Kristen Peralta, the founder of vintage pet rescue.
A Promising Future
Even though Joey loves living with the senior dogs, he’s not a permanent resident. Peralta hopes to find him a forever home once he receives his custom wheelchair from Eddie’s Wheels in Massachusetts. He will also need to be neutered before he can get adopted.
Joey’s ideal family will have lots of patience and a home without stairs. Ideally, it should be within 100 miles of Vintage Pet Rescue in case the adopters need assistance with anything.
“Having a dog with disabilities means thinking outside of the box a lot, so we need someone who will be able to adapt to Joey’s changing needs. Something that worked for him last week might not work for him this week, so we’re constantly thinking of new ways to keep him happy and mobile,” Peralta said.
Peralta adds that there’s no need to feel sorry for Joey. He doesn’t know he’s different, and he just wants people to be happy and affectionate toward him.
For more information and ways to support this rescue, visit their website.
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