Faith the miracle dog !

@Anniedup (3651)
Richards Bay, South Africa
October 6, 2008 9:23am CST
When I received this in my email via the ASPCA, I just had to share it with my friends. Even if you are not an animal or dog lover this is a story that is so inspiring! Here is the story of Faith please visit her website and read more about this little wonderful creature ! There is a lovely video as well Throughout October, in honor of Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, we'll be introducing you to five extraordinary dogs—one each week—in place of ASPCA Success Stories. In January 2003, the Stringfellow family of Edmond, OK, rescued a Lab/chow mix puppy with a severe disability. Though she had two healthy hind legs, one front leg was missing and the other was so deformed that it could not be used and eventually had to be amputated. When the family saw how the pup got around by lying on her stomach and pushing herself over the floor, they were determined to get her to at least sit up. “We constantly propped her onto her back legs, ” remembers mom Jude Stringfellow. “Mostly she would tilt and flop back down, but if she sat for a few seconds, we rewarded her with peanut butter, which she’ll do anything for." One day, when she was seven weeks old, the family took her out into the snow, and the pup, who earned the name Faith, did something startling—she sprang up onto her hind legs and hopped toward her family. “We all went crazy!” recalls Stringfellow. But that wasn’t the end of it. By the time she’d reached her three-month birthday, Faith went farther than hopping—she took her first steps. “Our corgi nipped her on the heel and she decided to chase after him,” recalls Stringfellow. “Our jaws dropped as she stood and literally ran foot over foot!” Now almost six years old and walking upright everywhere, Faith has been featured in various newspapers and on television shows for her fascinating accomplishment. However, her true calling seems to be to inspire those with challenges like hers. She’s a therapy dog, and regularly visits hospitals and spends time with kids who have disabilities. “We also visit wounded soldiers as often as we can,” says Stringfellow. “There’s power behind what Faith does. She shows everyone that you don't have to be 100-percent complete to be perfect.” Although a true angel, Faith is still very much a dog. “She chases geese, steals dirty socks and watches to see what food we leave on our plates,” says her mom. But every day, this little hero with a strikingly human strut reminds her family that she’s not exactly ordinary. “When she's ready to leave the house, she'll just pop up and go to the door!” reports Stringfellow. “Some people think we Photoshop her pictures. Then they meet her and realize that miracles do happen!” For more on Faith, visit her website. http://www.faiththedog.net/ Credit to ASPCA http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer
1 response
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
7 Oct 08
That is such a lovely story. I am so glad that the puppy found such a loving and caring family and that love has helped her overcome her disability. That is truly inspiring. She is such an amazing dog to have overcome such a sever disability. Thank you for sharing such a lovely story.
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
18 Oct 08
I am just as glad that there are still people that are so passionate about caring for an animal that will need so much love and care. She is one lucky little dog !