Adorable Rescue Pit Bull Wears Casts To Fix Her Deformed Legs

Oct 08, 2020

Although their reputation is improving, pit bulls are still a very misunderstood breed in many circles. Despite being one of the most gentle breeds overall, and being originally bred as "nanny dogs" to keep children company, many people still associate pit bulls with a false stereotype of aggression.

Perhaps this tragic mischaracterization is why this tiny adorable puppy was left in a sugar cane field to die. Once the call was made to report the injured pup, Tia Torres of the Villalobos Rescue Center and the show Pit Bulls & Parolees, drove to the outskirts of New Orleans immediately. Once there, she got to work.

In a video by Animal Planet from the show Pit Bulls & Parolees, Tia and the rest of the team immediately noticed that the injured dog was having difficulty walking. The dog's front legs were deformed, which forced her to walk on her ankles.

Thankfully, there is a solution to this problem. The bones of younger dogs are still fairly soft and malleable. Thus, by placing the dog's front legs in casts, she will be able to have her legs grow straight. And, of course, the casts had to be pink for such a beautiful little girl.

Once she was back at the vet offices, the staff were immediately impressed by the dog's outgoing nature. Despite being abandoned and injured, the puppy was remarkably outgoing and affectionate towards people. Her cute stubby face makes her absolutely irresistible.

In order to figure out how to heal the most efficiently, the lead veterinarian took an X-ray of the pup's legs. Dr. Kristen realized that the bones in her front legs did not form properly, so the joints were effectively soft cartilage.

Thus, speed was of the essence. If the bones could be held straight before the growth plates formed, then she had a chance at a normal life.

The beautiful girl's first steps were awkward and unbalanced. Once she was placed on her casts, she immediately took a floppy step and fell over. Although sad, her struggles were undeniably cute. Despite the discomfort, she continued to try and gain her sea legs.

After a few steps, she had understood her new gait and was able to walk over to her mom to say hello. The casts certainly slowed her down, but they will help with the healing process.

At the time, it took at least three months before she could run without casts. Further, she will have had to return to the vet for examination and adjustment throughout the healing process.

Thankfully, she is an extremely healthy dog except for her legs. More importantly, her foster mom is going to be there the whole time to support her. "I just can't wait for her to be able to be a normal adorable pitbull puppy," said her mom in the below video. "Having a fighting spirit is half the battle to healing, after all," she continued.

It is such a blessing that this strong puppy was found when she was. If she had had to survive for even a few hours longer, it is impossible to know if she would have survived. But for some reason, her rescuer was guided to her at just the right time. And if there is anything that dogs have in spades, it is a fighting spirit.

The teams of dedicated rescue and fostering members make a huge difference to the animal world. What's your favorite story of a puppy finding the means to heal? Talk about it in the comments, and don't forget to show this article to all of your friends.