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Age: 3 years old. Birthday: 11/11/11 — pretty neat! |
My brothers and sisters and canine mama were found in a house in Tennessee. We had been abandoned and left in a closet, or mama went into the closet, after she was abandoned by her family, and decided we’d be born there. We’re not exactly sure. A nice gentleman found us in there and took us to a shelter, but in that area of Tennessee, shelters aren’t really shelters – that’s what mom calls a misnomer. I think she means that the place called a shelter is really a bad place where dogs are just numbered, and if a dog is there too long, then he or she can be euthanized, which is a thing that should be reserved for super-sick and old dogs, not for healthy, young dogs like us! So, somebody from Massachusetts was nice enough to make frequent trips down to Tennessee and rescue animals, and we were the lucky ones who were rescued back in 2011 right before Christmas. Massachusetts is colder than Tennessee, but we like it here.
I was adopted originally by a nice family, but somehow I broke my leg in a million places, and they didn’t really know what to do, and didn’t have a lot of money, so their veterinarian told them to keep me in a crate so I wouldn’t hurt my leg worse. I was only 5 months old at the time, and nobody remembers exactly what happened. It was really hard for all of us because all I wanted to do was run and play, but my leg was broken and I was stuck in a crate. After a while, my first family realized this was a bad situation, so they returned me to the rescue people. Rescue sent out an email to the other families who had adopted my brothers and sisters, to see if one of them wanted a brother with a bum leg! Wouldn’t you know it, Kathy, who is a real softie, and who had adopted my big brother, (and I do mean BIG), Charlie Brown, decided she was interested. She came to visit me, and I had a little reunion with Charlie Brown, and we adored each other so much because we had been the last two puppies to stay with our mama dog after all the others had been adopted, so it was super cool to be able to see each other again.
Kathy was really happy to see how well we got along, and said she wanted to add me to her furever home where Charlie lived with another dog, Hobie, and three cats.
It sounds like you had a rough start to life – thank goodness you were rescued and now have a loving and furever home! That mom of yours sounds like she has a big heart! We are glad that she adopted you into her family. But dude… breaking your leg into a million pieces? That doesn’t sound fun at all. Can you tell us more about that?
The veterinarians decided it was best to amputate my front leg, because the only kind of surgery that could have been tried was something they called “experimental”, and in fact the vet said she wouldn’t even try that on her OWN dog, and she wouldn’t want to put me through that ’cause it might not even work.
I had my leg amputated, and stayed with my foster mom for a few weeks, and then Kathy came to get me and bring me to my furever home in August of 2012 when I was about 9 months old.
I don’t blame you for saying no that that “experimental” stuff. Sounds scary to me. But so does getting your leg amputated! You sure are brave! Does having only three legs affect your every-day life very much?
Having only three legs doesn’t make me any different from anyone else. But Mom is always worried about my jumping-on-people problem. I can be kinda dangerous because of “The Claw”, as she calls it. I try not to jump on people, but I love humans SO much, I can’t help myself! I’m not as large as Charlie, but I’m not small, either, even if I was the runt of the litter.
I can run just as fast as my huge brother Charlie, and I can go up the stairs “wicked fast” as they say here in Mass., plus I can get onto and off of furniture like nobody’s business. Throw a ball, and I’ll go get it. One of my favorite things to do is hop up on the picnic table in the back yard and BARK for as long as I can until Mom comes outside and hollers at me to come back into the house! If mom leaves the window of the car wide open, I can jump into the car just like a cat, from a seated position. So, yeah, there’s really nothing different about me… and I bet Charlie Humongous can’t jump into the open window of the car from a seated position, or from ANY position, for that matter! I don’t like it when the humans try to assist me, I prefer to figure out a way to do things myself, either that, or I just don’t do the thing.
missing a leg, you would never be able to tell that he’s a tripawd! He gets around just like any other dog!
Click here to view on YouTube if it doesn’t work below.
You sure do have a lot of special tricks, like jumping through a car window. It sounds like having your leg amputated doesn’t really get in the way of anything at all! Amazing. So we’ve learned that you love to run and play ball, that you’re adventurous and active, and that you are brave and resilient. What else can you tell us about your personality?
My personality is super-special because I love all humans. You will be my best friend within two minutes of meeting me. I love being patted and scratched, and my favorite things is belly rubs. I will jump up onto the bed or couch and snuggle with anyone and everyone who sleeps over at our house. Especially pet sitters!
You are one sweet dog, Cooper. I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to be your friend, me included! I think you may be my new best friend! Anyway, I have a couple of questions for your mom now. Mom Kathy, or “K2” as some call you, will you tell us about the impact Cooper has had on your life?
Well, I can only say that he is my very own, personal “Comfort Dog”. If I’m ever sad, or sick or in pain (I have fibromyalgia) Coop will just snuggle up to me and cuddle with me . He will put his head on my shoulder and rest it there, and just help me feel better. I recently lost both my husband and our older dog within a month of each other. If I didn’t have Cooper to comfort me I know I’d be a real mess right now. There are a lot of times when I can’t stop crying, and he just comes and puts his head on my shoulder, or paws at me with “The Claw” and before I know it, I’m smiling and giggling. If I’m ever feeling sorry for myself or like a physical challenge is too hard for me, I look over at Cooper, doing all these normal activities with only three legs, and I think “What am I complaining about?!”
My mom says the same thing – that I am an every-day inspiration. We “special featured” animals are pretty good for that 🙂 Do you have any words of wisdom to share with anyone who may be considering adopting a pet with a special feature?
If anyone out there is considering adopting a special needs pet, I would say, what are you waiting for? Go for it! Number one, the pet was put in your path by the universe for a reason – there is a lesson to learn. Our pets constantly teach us, every day. Secondly, special needs pets are often overlooked because they are “different”, and for that reason they are sometimes left in the shelter or rescue in favor of a “healthier” more able-bodied companion. Most special needs pets don’t need much of anything special except for minor assistance, or medications, and sometimes “healthier” pets can be a real handful. Remember that the right dog will find YOU. You’ll know that furever pet – it’s the one you can’t stop thinking about after you go home from the shelter!
That is wonderful advice and great words of wisdom. Thank you.
Wow, what an awesome dog Cooper is! I think we can all learn a lot from that guy.
Thanks again, Cooper and K2.
What a wonderful interview! Cooper is such a special boy and his human Mom is pretty special, too!
Thanks for sharing their story with us.
XXOO
Cooper is very special!
It’s amazing how resilient our furry friends can be. Such a zest for life despite having endured such hardships <3
Wow, Cooper is such an amazing dog! He sounds super active despite rough start and being tripawd. I’m sorry his mom lost her husband and older dog, but glad Cooper was there to comfort her. They are wonderful and very lucky to have each other xoxo
Sophie, we loved meeting Cooper and his mom. Thanks so much for sharing his story. We are going to check out his blog. Astrid is sending her beloved Sampy a kiss for every woofie in the world. (Now that’s a new one!). Love to all. Hope you are having some success with getting rid of all the little beasties. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Nice to meet Cooper ! He’s amazing ! Purrs
What a wonderful and inspiring post. Cooper you are gorgeous! Bravo to your family for seeing into your heart!
Hugs
Madi and mom
dood…veree nice two meet ewe N yur familee….we iz mega sorree bout yur start in life but we iz all sew mega glad ya final lee finded yur for everz ….though we gotta say jumpin inta de car iz prob ab lee knot a good thing… ya noe…..yur mom mite make ewe go two werk ore sum thin !! ~~~ we loved yur mewvie N gived it 984 paws up….{ with hearts ta yur mom ♥♥♥♥♥ for her recent losses ♥♥♥♥♥ }
Wow! Cooper is one cool dog! Thanks for featuring him so we could get to know him better.
Thank you for the wonderful post about our Cooper and thanks everyone for the nice and encouraging comments!!
Wow, I just watched the video, which I hadn’t watched for a while. The older dog, Hobie (RIP) was barking in the video. He had lost his ability to bark for approximately the last two years of his life. It was so wonderful to hear his bark again! Guess I should watch my own videos more often LOL! Thank you!!
What a joy to meet Cooper! Bravo for him and all animals who move through adversity of all kinds and into a life full of fun! We are amazingly resilient – we just need love and encouragement and we can do ANYTHING! Thanks for sharing Cooper’s story…….
Love, Sammy
Awww! What a sweet pup Cooper is!
And fun, too!!
Cooper sure is special!
Cooper sure is special!
Cooper sure is special!