My name is True!

Update on True, November 2013:

Well, surprise surprise! Little True is getting stronger and stronger every day, and is shaping up to be a much more typical BC pup – full of enthusiasm AND energy. He joins in with the rest of the crew on long walks daily (over an hour) and hardly has any trouble keeping up, as long as the walks are on a soft surface like grass. (He doesn’t do as well walking on gravel, dirt, or asphalt) He can, in fact, now also jump ditches and outrun his foster mom in short bursts! Yikes! The vet who originally saw him thinks he is walking more upright as well, and he’s pretty much one little muscle now. True’s spirits, of course, remain the same – hard to improve on joyous! He’s as happy as ever, but is no longer a shy boy either. He loooves meeting people! We think he could be a smash hit for therapy work. He also really enjoys toys and is playing with any dog who will join him. And oh, the snow! His new favorite! If you could see him zoom and bound around…we hope to get videos of him soon. In the meantime, enjoy the new photos of this little goofball!

Original bio:

If you love an irrepressible spirit - you are going to LOVE True! True is our latest special needs heartstealer. This darling little 1 year old was born with deformed front legs and was recently brought to an Idaho shelter to be euthanized. We heard about him in the nick of time - and are we ever glad! This special boy has limited mobility - picture short front legs - and it seems surgical options are pretty much out of the question.. but his heart is good as gold and his sweet nature knows no bounds! With a smile a mile wide and a heart even bigger, to know this boy is to love him.

True is a delightfully charming, curious, funny little guy – he’s happy and enthusiastic and races excitedly out the door each morning to greet the day! True enjoys human company and loves nothing more than to be with his people and be a part of whatever they are doing. He is not at all a needy kiddo, but he can be pretty cuddly and happily soaks up any and all attention, especially if they are in the form of belly rubs. Although he can be pretty shy and submissive when meeting new people, once he warms up you will have yourself a little black and white shadow! With more good experiences out in the world meeting new people to build his confidence, we can see True becoming quite a social butterfly…and this is good because people can’t resist him! True is much more confident greeting new canines and he is GREAT with other dogs – he really enjoys canine company and loves to tag along with the group of dogs at his foster home. He will play with those willing, hopping around trying to stir up some fun, and loves to wrestle with his foster sister. Sure, he can’t play chase too fast, but it’s not for lack of trying! And there are soooo many other fun ways to play…He didn’t show much interest in the cat we tested him with, so he can likely live with a feline. True likes toys, he especially likes to mess around with a blue rubber ball, and he ADORES anything he can chew – raw bones are his favorite. He will chase after anything thrown, too. True is a pretty sunny fellow – his tail wags a LOT - and is like a kid in a candy store in his foster home - EVERYTHING is an adventure! (“Time for chores? Let’s go!...Wow, a ball!...Oh, a ride in the car? Me first!...Can you believe this bone I have? Lookit how great!”) He gets crazy puppy spurts, moans in pleasure when chewing a new bone, sits like a prairie dog, loves to show off whatever he’s got, burrows in the newly cut hay, and thinks it’s VERY cool to climb on TOP of the crate in the car and lie there, grinning his fool head off….yes, he’s a character of 1000 expressions and his antics keep us smiling all day long. True is great company and a total joy to have around. Despite his being “special needs” True is definitely a BC pup – he is NOT low energy or mellow – and he need exercise and stimulation to keep him from being a nippy, jumpy little imp. A couple of short walks a day, lots of chewing options, and lots of interaction with his people and canine pals keep True at his best and happiest. Obviously, True is no candidate for dog sports, but we think with his optimistic, well-adjusted nature in general, and with additional socialization and training, True could perhaps make an ideal therapy dog. He sure is inspiring!

Besides personality to spare, True has some skills that make him a good canine companion, too. He’s housetrained, cratetrained, and rarely strays far! Currently, True is learning to sit (which, for True, means perch like a prairie dog – since his front legs are so short, he can’t sit like other dogs) for things he wants in his foster home. So – what’s up with his handicap, anyway? True belonged to a family who reported he was born this way – and we believe them, since he has a few other minor birth defects (extra toenails and pads). After consulting with some veterinary specialists, it seems True’s elbow joints never aligned, and so the lower leg bone has grown up past the upper leg bone. The vets have acknowledged that it is rare to see a dog with True’s disability survive past puppyhood, and there are no low risk surgical options to remedy the problem. But survive he has, and he has adapted remarkably well. He does not seem to be in pain. He can climb and descend stairs and jump into cars and onto furniture. He moves about with a most unusual gait – front end crouching along, hind end hopping along – but walk and run he does! He just needs to stop and lie down frequently, but then gets up and keeps on. He has no trouble keeping up on slow walks now that he has built up some strength, and he really likes doing yard chores, where it is very stop and go. His balance is remarkable – he can maintain his prairie dog pose for quite a while – he can also fully stand on his hind legs to look around and find you when in tall grass. He has an enormous heart and does NOT give up – we have never seen him ask to be carried (although he will flatten to the ground and refuse to move if scared, and it is fun to carry him – it is more like carrying a child than a dog because of his shape).

Given the unusual nature of his handicap, long term prognosis is hazy at best. The vets do predict arthritis and recommend he be given joint supplements. True has also shown some excessive drinking and urinating recently, often a symptom of kidney trouble – and indeed initial bloodwork indicated something is up with his kidneys, although he shows no other symptoms. An ultrasound showed no defects, however, and more recent bloodwork indicated his blood back to normal levels – a MUCH better report! We suspect an infection is the culprit and will post more updates as we learn more.

All in all, True is an absolutely wonderful young dog who is the perfect living example that it’s not what you are given – it’s what you make of it. Although it’s hard to say exactly how True’s future will play out, he sure isn’t worrying about it, and is set on making every day a joyful one for him and all those around him! If you are looking for one very special, totally lovable bundle of fun – True may be the one for you.

True is vaccinated, neutered, and living in a loving foster home near Jackson, WY.

If you’d like more information on True, please contact WBCR at info@wbcrescue.org.

VIDEO: Click here to view video of True in action.