Princess Thumbelina is on the lookout in search of her palace.After an exciting voyage from Texas to New York City, the rescue dog is looking for the appropriate permanent family. She was abandoned at Stone Creek Vet, a medical institution in a rural region close to Dallas, when Heart and Bones, a foster-based rescue organization with sites in Texas and New York City, took the dog in.
They immediately saw that she was unable to utilize her front legs due to their deformity. They are short-lived. She has paws, but they are not as useful to her as a dog’s front paws are.According to Allison Seelig of Hearts & Bones, who talked with PEOPLE, the doctor first encountered Thumbelina. They concluded that she must have genetically malformed legs and that her physical characteristics are likely the result of poor breeding practices.
Heart & Bones is confident that someone is seeking for a buddy who is comparable to this “wonderful” special needs dog even if Thumbelina’s prior owner is no longer able to care for the dog. Thumbelina was around a year old when she first came across Hearts and Bones, so she had had some time to see the world.
During that time the husky/German shepherd hybrid learned to walk on her shorter front legs by utilizing the backs of her paws. Sadly, a trip to the vet showed that Thumbelina’s self-taught gait style will eventually lead to potentially fatal health problems.
She had been crawling on her front legs and moving about on her rear legs for a year, and she had grown rather adept at it. She would squat like a meerkat on her back legs, Seelig explains.
“She was pretty content to be hiding out. However, because she isn’t walking on paw-pads, our veterinarian colleague was concerned that the degradation on her front arms would cause problems. She is moving on fur. They were worried that she might develop spinal issues as a result of the pressure it places on her front body and the odd angle at which it pitches her down.the animal rescuer continues
Following Thumbelina’s adoption by Hearts and Bones, the animal shelter gathered the cash required to purchase her a vivid pink wheelchair that properly supports her as she maneuvers with her back legs. Thumbelina relocated to the Dallas home of Heart and Bones’ creator to take a brief training in wheelchair use.
Thumbelina rapidly mastered her new wheels and made many of animal pals in the area. The rescue’s founder was sure that Thumbelina could traverse the world in her wheelchair despite the fact that many of the shelters there are congested and packed, so Hearts and Bones brought her from Texas to New York City at the start of August.
Thumbelina reportedly became the 200th foster puppy overall when she went in with Megan Penney, a pet foster. Penney is presently caring for the dog, and she only has positive things to say about the young girl who has made progress in her wheelchair control and socialization with other dogs, including Penney’s own.
Thumbelina has been to the seaside and a park in addition to the streets of New York and has charmed everyone she meets. She is excited now that she has met her adoptive family.
Thumbelina “would perform brilliantly in any household,” Seeling writes, adding a warning to prospective owners to expect the dog will initially be reticent.
Penney, who is aware with the requirements for caring for Thumbelina, says that owning a special needs pet is not as difficult as some people imagine. Thumbelina requires assistance getting into and out of her wheelchair, therefore her adopters must be able to lift 42 pounds, and they must live in a home with an elevator, ramp, or level surface. With the exception of these traits, Penney thinks that caring for Thumbelina is comparable to caring for a dog with fully grown front legs.
To prepare for her new home, Thumbelina just received grooming at Squeaky Clean Dog Grooming in New York City. Pride + Groom, a pet care company, gave her a spa day and the tools required for the pet’s makeover. For Pride + Groom, One Fur The conditioning shampoo was used entirely in support of animal shelters and rescues.
At this point, Thumbelina is completely prepared to begin her new life with her forever family. If you think Thumbelina is the canine princess you’ve been looking for, you may submit an application to adopt her via the Hearts and Bones website.
According to the organization, anyone who is currently unable to adopt a pet is urged to consider fostering one. “For two to three weeks, foster care may almost save a dog. because there isn’t enough space at shelters to care for all the dogs who are now in need of homes. Additionally, the more individuals who agree to foster pets, the fewer dogs there are in shelters, claims Seeling.
They have a greater chance of finding a forever home at that age since they are accustomed to living in a household. Additionally, it is quite beneficial to lessen the pressure on shelters.
Simply keep in mind that even a concrete cage at an animal sanctuary is far better than your studio apartment, suggests Penney.