Victory is living up to her namesake.
The 2-year-old Chihuahua mix was found on her own early this year and brought into the Dearborn Animal Shelter in Dearborn, Mich. A congenital birth defect that left her with front legs that couldn't fully extend earned her worldwide attention and the nickname "Kangaroo Dog" -- but they also hindered the pup, who could really only run on her hind legs.
The shelter raised $10,000 in funds for Victory, according to the Detroit Free Press. With her otherwise clean bill of health, they were able to arrange for the treatment she needed through their Hope's Heroes program for animals that have special needs. In a release, Dearborn Animal Shelter said OrthoPets of Denver custom-built and donated Victory's prosthetics. First, she had a sled. Now, she has a four-wheel cart. In a third stage she'll get a prosthetic with fewer wheels to increase mobility.
Victory was given her name because of her daily optimism. She has been briefly afraid of her devices when she first started using them, but seems to have mastered getting around with on her new wheels. And she can travel quite fast, said Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter Executive Director Elaine Greene, who adopted the pup.
"She is pretty fearless and took quickly to the wheels," Greene said in a release. "She sometimes needs a leash to slow her down when we take her outside."
Adopting a special needs animal is not for everybody (treatment can be cost-prohibitive), but can be an amazing opportunity for some, according to Sandra Boulton, the shelter's PR director.
"Those who have adopted special needs animals from our Shelter often describe the experience as more rewarding for them than they could ever have imagined," she told The Huffington Post. "They are inspired by the animal's courage, by its unending devotion and ability to adapt."
And Victory is spreading her courage and positive attitude at a nearby senior living community.
"She has become a favorite visitor of the residents, especially those that have mobility issues of their own," Boulton said in the release.
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