Sammy Has Three Legs

Sammy is Home

2009-04-25T07:48:00.003-04:00

On December 31, 2008 Sammy went to his forever home! He has a cat sister and brother, and is doing fabulous. Felicia works at the rehab vet where he goes, and is the best person I could ever imagine to take him. He is allowed on couches and roams her big yard. I imagine his days are filled with the best dreams as he snores away his days on a chair he claimed as his own. Thank you everyone for the many emails and support during my year (almost a year to the day) I got to spend working with him.

Sammy Wants a Home

2008-04-10T22:21:00.005-04:00

I am a smiling, tail wagging, snuggly, three legged lab. I was found as a stray in Tennessee. A rescue group helped me get to the Animal Service League. I am estimated to be 7 to 8 years old. It is unknown how Sammy’s front right leg came to be missing. The strain of trying to get around, has created damage to his hind legs. Thanks to the generosity of many kind folks, Sammy now has his very own custom built cart. He enjoys being taken out for a real stroll once a day for about thirty minutes. He can get around a home fairly well with the power of his three legs. Sammy is now doing physical therapy at a rehabilitation facility (to strengthen his muscles and help his gait), goes on outings to the park, and loves riding in the car.

So what does Sammy need now? A loving home... of course loving Sammy is the easy part. He needs a home that will not feel sorry for him! Ideally, he will need to continue therapy with monthly visits to keep help with the strain of his lost leg. He gets along well with other dogs in public settings but he is a food and toy guarder. If there are no toys or bones etc. and supervised, set feeding times, he would probably enjoy the company of another dog. He has excellent manners, is non destructive and is housebroken. He loves children, and is very easy going. He will snuggle his way right into any family. His favorite activities are curling up in laps, pets, and of course long walks in his cart.

Sammy can be met in person at Adoption Days

Saturdays 1 to 3 pm, Petco on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford &
Sundays from 1-3 at PetSaver in Stone Ridge Plaza in Greece

Contact Animal Service League at 342-6099 or www.animalserviceleagueny.org

Loving Whirlpool Baths

2008-04-10T22:14:00.005-04:00

Sammy's best picture in the Haku-Med whirlpool bath. Here you can see how he is so completely relaxed (so relaxed that we've taken to giving him ridiculous hair styles while he's in it- here he is sporting a faux hawk). He also has a love of his yellow floating pillow in it. This is the treatment I hope his adoptive family continues, as it completely relaxes him, and helps him so much. When he is getting in, he is completely smiling and he has learned that when it beeps, he has to get out. He sulks a bit after getting out, until toweling off, his second favorite activity! Tomorrow Sammy's story will be on the radio, on Fickle 93.3 at *gasp* 7:40 am. Sammy won't have to get up, but Barkley and I will.

Sammy woos another lady

2008-04-03T10:56:00.005-04:00

I'm sitting here in a hotel in the middle of no where (work travel). So, a brief post. First, at PT the other day, Sammy actually walked! A real gait, of a normal dog. He has a hopping sort of gait, and his back moves up and down, well, suddenly he walked on the treadmill! It happened when he was doing his usual "cheating", which is when he puts his front paw on the 2 inch front part of the treadmill that does work. We always discourage his cheating, but suddenly this week when he cheated, he started walking. Me and L. both looked at each other shocked. Had we just seen that? So, we encouraged him to cheat, and he walked again! He wasn't even tired at all, so he went 2 extra minutes. It was crazy to see him walk and not struggle. Now we need to figure out how to get him to do it outside of the comfort of the water tank.

In other news, Sammy has so many pen pals now from different web sites, and he is now an official member of Cassie's Three Legged Dog Club. This is his new lady friend, Emma. . . She writes him (well, her mom takes dictation for her). Because from what I've heard and read, she's a little lab genius like Sammy. Here is her latest letter!

Hi everyone!

My name is Emma. I want to let everyone know how great us three-legged dogs are, so my bud Sammy can find himself a good home. My owner found me when I had been at the shelter for a while and then in a foster home. She didn't know how lucky she was to bring my happy, confident, princess self home with her. I now take her for walks around the neighborhood....I think I manage to keep her outside about two hours a day! My favorite activity is chasing squirrels, and let me tell you....I may be missing a front leg, but I'm darn good at it! By the way...I'm super fast. My bud Sammy will be able to adjust to a new home, like me, in no time. I gotta tell ya', at first new things made me a little nervous...like stairs. But, us pooches are quick learners...especially us tripods. What we're missing in a leg we make up for in charm and smarts. So, give my bud Sammy a chance and he'll make sure you never go without love, attention and much more. Oh, my, and such an added bonus that Sammy has his own set of wheels. I'm so jealous!

Sammy has friends!

2008-03-26T21:00:00.003-04:00

In the past few days, a few wonderful people around the country have emailed me with encouragement for Sammy. He is now featured at Cassie's Three Legged Dog Club. Which is good, because the past few days, he has been very tired and very demanding. He also hasn't been in his cart with me lately very much (I've been doing PT mostly), so he has been a drunk driver while walking with me. Just wanting to run into me and be pet instead of walking. Oh Mr. Sammy. I have to remind myself that he isn't regressing, he's just used to other people walking him in his cart. He is ready for a home, and someone to make him walk on only one side of them, and give him one set of commands. I say that with every post lately, but I think about it all the time. So toady I leave you with Sammy and his carrot. I bought him a squeaky carrot last week, and you can see the parts of it starting to come off five minutes after we got it back into his pen (he did carry it around the store for a while, which was soooo cute).

Cars vs. Dog Carts

2008-03-25T20:30:00.007-04:00

I've been mostly taking Sammy to therapy, and Petco, so every time I see him, he gets to go for a ride. So, yesterday, I went to just work out with him in his cart. He was sooo mad that he wasn't getting a ride, so he just stopped in his cart and barked at the car. He barked as I made him walk up the hill with me. Then he realized how lucky he was, and we went for a nice 20 minute walk. He was a bit of a drunken driver in his cart, weaving in front of me over and over again. I'm going to have to start figuring out how to train him to "heel" in his cart, and stay on one side. He used to be great staying on my right (he seems to do better on that side), but yesterday he was a mess! But he was happy.

This is a fuzzy picture of Sammy at his new favorite activity at Thera-Vet! They put the towels over his head and he barks and plays peek-a-boo. Oh Sammy- he's breaking my heart more and more each day. I leave you with the way I leave Sammy every day, tired, exhausted, and in his pen at ASL. I'm breaking out the sad Sammy pictures now. He wants to come live on a couch- heck he'd be happy with a comfy bed on the floor.

Sammy called and he wants to come home with you.

2008-03-21T11:43:00.002-04:00

After a week out of town for me, I was greeted at the shelter by very loud barks of "hello" and "where were you?" Sammy hopped into my car off to Thera-Vet. He was so happy and smiling to see me. He now sits up sometimes in the car to look out the window, and if the temperature is anywhere above freezing I open the window and let him sniff the air. He loves it. He loves the car. He's just happy.

But as spring approaches, and I start thinking about dog walking and all the things Barkley loves outside, I want a home even more desperately for Sammy. He's ready for someone to walk him every day and stretch out his legs every day. I wish I could get him on a walk daily, but I'm there at least 3 times a week already, and my schedule has been insane.

On an exciting note- Sammy is now in second place on the leader board at Thera-Vet He is at 16 minutes - 8 minutes - break - 8 minutes. He is only 2 minutes away from the leader. And the leader has 4 legs! He's making incredible progress. He used to be the lowest on the board.

Sammy will be at Petco tomorrow, Saturday from 1-3. Please stop by to visit and fall in love.

Fit as Fiddle

2008-03-09T18:25:00.005-04:00

Or closer to that goal than he's probably ever been! Sammy got a great bill of health yesterday from his 7 week checkup. The vet said he has muscle tone now! Muscle tone! That's a great thing. His coat looks great, and he is so happy. He's up to 16 minutes on the treadmill. It was a great day of encouragement. Sammy had Dr. Browne, her husband and his two favorite vet techs in the world all paying attention to him. He felt like he'd won some sort of big prize.

Only small glitch is that where I had posted Sammy was down to 70 lbs, somehow he is back up to 71.4. But the shelter just approved twice a week trips to Thera-Vet! So, until the weather clears up, that will be one of the hardest workouts he has. I can't wait to start walking him with my dog club. Hour long walks are the norm and it is all pavement.

I feel like he is so ready to go to a home now. He needs daily long walks, as his strength increases 20 minutes isn't cutting it for his weight loss and muscle buildup. Oh spring, where are you?!

I will be out of town for the next week, so no posts- but the guilt will be overtaking me, and maybe the trails at the park will be clear when I get back and we can start out spring workouts.

6 lbs down! 4 to go!

2008-03-07T10:12:00.004-05:00

They say that the last few are the hardest- and I imagine it will be that way for Sammy. But he is now at exactly 70lbs! Miraculously he no longer has dandruff, and his eyes are now incredibly bright. He's a changed pup. And I love him even more and desperately want a good home for him. Somewhere he can lounge on the couch, get excited about daily walks, and maybe even sleep in the bed (a dog can dream!).

Here is the video of him rolling backwards. And to think he could only do 5 minutes in his cart when we started. Today is his 7 week checkup with Dr. Browne. I'll post after that!

Sammy in real time

2008-02-27T23:20:00.002-05:00

I'll be out of town for a few days, so I had special time with Sammy tonight. L. came to meet him and shot these pics and made this! I specially requested the song and heart. Look how he rolls backwards! You can't hear me, but I'm giving him the command "back. . . back" and he rolls backwards. The white on the tires of his cart is from the snow! Sammy will still be at Petco this Saturday from 1-3. Look for the three legged dog.

A Real House Dog

2008-02-23T17:49:00.003-05:00

Sammy did great at Petco today. He didn't have a pen, so he roamed around requiring pets from every passerby. Afterwards I took him over to my friend R.s house. I wanted to see how he did at a house. If he could climb the stairs, get onto the couch, etc. She has two crazy young puppies, and Sammy was not too fond of their high energy level. But he did well on their carpeted stairs- he needed his sling, but he sat down once he got to the landing and waited for me to put on his sling. He is beginning to ask when he needs help. He sits and waits. He LOVED the couch. He literally curled up next to R.'s husband, rolled over and waited for his belly to be rubbed. He is a great dog for anyone looking for someone to just snuggle on the couch. I've never seen him on a couch, in a real house and that is where he belongs. It encouraged me even more to keep looking for the perfect house for him. Isn't anyone ready for him?

Everyone has one vice

2008-02-22T17:49:00.002-05:00

Today I stopped at a pet store to pick something up for Barkley. A cute, little polar bear fell in my cart for Sammy, and he squeaked it all the way home. The minute he got back to ASL, he ripped the legs off his polar bear! Apparently his self image is of a dog without legs, and he thought his toys should all have legs. Ok, secretly his one vice is that he destroys squeaky toys. It looks like a snow storm in his pen some days, when H. brings him new toys. This is a picture of the sad, little pink legs from the polar bear.

Black Labs with 3 good legs unite!

2008-02-22T17:27:00.007-05:00

No posts lately, because I've been crazy busy, not because Sammy hasn't been out and about and loving life.

Sammy has become friends with Tucker, a dog from Lollypop Farm who is being rehabbed at Thera-Vet. Tucker is also a black lab, and he had surgery on his hind quarters, or hip. He apparently is lazy on the treadmill- so he sat and watched Sammy do his workout last week. You can see Sammy on the underwater treadmill behind him working hard, while Tucker lounges around. Tucker though has a home! I believe his foster family will be taking him.

In other news, we sent out a flyer of Sammy to a few people. If you want one, please email me . The more people we can send it out to, the better. Sammy will need monthly visits to thera-vet, to upkeep all the therapy we've done. They cost around $85. He needs a daily walk in his cart, to keep his weight down, some stretching (which can be done while you are petting him), and lots of snuggles.

J. took Sammy to a nursing home this week. Apparently he loved it, and was loved by all the patients. He spent a few hours there getting snuggles, and loving the patients. More on that to come (maybe from J?).

Sammy will be at Pittsford Petco tomorrow (Saturday) from 1-3. Please come visit him!

Valentine's Day Tea Party

2008-02-11T10:29:00.000-05:00

Here I am, the saddest dog ever at the Valentine's Day Tea Party which was going on at Petco, during adoptions day. I really wasn't sad, I just took the worst picture ever, and M. wouldn't let me have any of the cookie cake they gave me. She made me give them to Deena & Toby who live at the shelter with me (temporarily for all of us - we all hope!). . Tons of kids pet me today, and I rewarded each of them with huge tail wags- and looks of pure joy. It was so fabulous. So here is my valentine's day card to my future parents. . . please don't judge my horrible picture taking. I was sulking.

Whirlwind few days

2008-02-09T21:13:00.001-05:00

Therapy twice this week- to make up for a missed ice storm day! Look at me on my way into the whirlpool. Sammy actually almost fell asleep in it. It took him all of 30 seconds to relax, and it's incredible the difference it is making. He's starting to stretch his legs out behind himself in every day life. He's up to 11 minutes total on the treadmill, and isn't nearly as winded on it. Best of all- he's lost 5 lbs! Only 5 more to go.

He's just had a great week. After 3 weeks on new food, starting glucosamine last week, there are big changes in him. I swore his eyes were starting to clear up and look much clearer- and another volunteer confirmed that it wasn't my imagination. He's a very happy dog. A million children pet him today at Petco. He would be a great dog for a family who wants to love him. these pics are of him at therapy and look how happy he is to just have people paying attention, even if he is working hard on the treadmill, or being hoisted up into the whirlpool.

PT on Monday?!

2008-02-04T12:06:00.000-05:00

Today Sammy did .6 mph on the treadmill for 8 minutes total. But the best part was he got to go in the Hako- Med Whirlpool. He was in love. He was so relaxed, and after we took him out, he stretched his hind legs out behind him, which he has never done. It was incredibly cute, and shows that he is making progress. They said he did amazing, but the truth is, he just loved it. You can see him below just hanging out smiling, flying like Peter Pan, as he gets out of the tub. In the picture above he is completely relaxed in the tub, I even caught him sleeping a few times.

PS Sammy is now comfortably riding in the backseat, some of you will be happy to know.

Adopt Me

2008-02-02T20:03:00.000-05:00

Even though I'm lazying it up, and there is a crazy puppy next to me - Adopt Me! We went to adoption days today at Petco, and Sammy did great. He just chilled out in his pen, and he met some amazing people. There were a few people who were interested in snuggling and looking at him, but no one who was interested in giving him a home (sadness). We did though meet his new PT volunteer J. She snuggled him up, and within twenty minutes he had fallen in love with her. I'm so excited to have someone else giving him love on T/TH. The volunteers at ASL though are incredible with him, but J. will do walks to the park, and hopefully a few days at her house- for super snuggling.

Petco

2008-02-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

Petco adventure tomorrow! Sammy will be at Pittsford Petco on Monroe Avenue from 1-3 tomorrow (Saturday). Come visit him. He'll need plenty of snuggles.

The Down Low

2008-02-01T08:30:00.000-05:00

You may be wondering why I love this black lab so much, devote so much time to him, and don't adopt him. . . it's because I have one heck of a dog aggressive miniature schnauzer mix. He's my own personal rescue dog, and it's taken 6 years to bring him to the state of being a dog rather than a beast. I work with a Cornell trained dog trainer with him, and he would make quick work of a 3 legged dog. So, while Sammy sits alone this morning in his pen, the lucky schnauzer is sleeping under the down comforter with me. I promise never to post another picture of Barkley (this is Sammy's blog) but he is my own personal rescue cause, and while my heart isn't full, sadly the position of alpha dog is taken.

Ice Storm

2008-02-01T08:24:00.001-05:00

I woke up to the strange sound of small ice pellets hitting the roof. Darn it. Fridays at pet therapy are my favorite day, and skipping Wednesday has given me dreams of Sammy every night. I felt terrible, but I canceled his appointment. I even had a student of mine, who is going to vet school lined up to come. I have promised to make it up to Sammy by the best walk ever at the dog park tomorrow. He loved Monday so much that it should be perfect. I'm going to try and push him to do 45 minutes. Hopefully some friends will meet me there with their dogs to motivate him. I swear I'll take some more pics with my cell phone camera (the poor quality ones!) of him with friends.

Alone

2008-01-30T22:16:00.000-05:00

M. didn't come today. I waited and waited for her, but she never came. She sent me a message that she had work all day and a meeting tonight. I bet she's just spending time with her schnauzer. I hear he even gets to sleep under the down blanket at night. . . I wish someone would let me come home and sleep on their bed with them. That darn schnauzer has the best life.

Dog Park, here we come

2008-01-28T15:35:00.000-05:00

Today was Sammy's first walk in the park. We hit the local dog park, which I usually can't go to, due to Barkley's dog aggression. Sammy was so very happy. At times I even had a hard time keeping up with him. He met a few tiny dogs, who he seemed to like and one dog aggressive dog he did awesome with. We walked 25 minutes and he wasn't that tired. Then I let him off leash/ cart in a snowy field and he rolled back and forth in the snow on his back. Just like a true lab.

He is really learning how to sit when he's waiting for things, so he doesn't crash face first into the ground. In fact, he hasn't crashed in a while. Getting in and out of the car is tough, we don't have a great system for that, but he does fine moving around the car. In fact the other day I left him in my car for a few minutes and when I came back, he had miraculously moved from the front seat to the back. . .

2x2x3

2008-01-25T15:30:00.000-05:00

That's right, Sammy did 7 minutes total on the underwater treadmill! He did two 2 minute runs and one 3 minute run. He could barely make it to the car afterwards. But in true lab spirit, he loved the water tank. He met a younger black lab who has a lame back right leg also. If we market them as a pair, they'd have 4 healthy legs between the two of them. Here he is resting between his three "laps" on the treadmill. Notice the steamed window where he had been panting. He loved having the attention of three people (me cheering him on outside of the tank, and the wonderful people at Thera-Vet. His favorite part (besides the ride in the car), was getting toweled off.

Tomorrow we're off to Petco for adoption days.

We're off to the races

2008-01-23T21:01:00.000-05:00

Sammy ran on Monday! I started walking him in his wheelchair/ cart on the street (it is up a hill), on a leash, and he is so so happy. We went up and down the street twice. And ran the last part both time. His tongue was lolling as he chased me down the street. We both came in panting.

Today, when I showed up, he was sitting, waiting for me. Sitting! He usually is laying down in his cage. I guess all the sits are working. He seems to be sitting for attention rather than laying down. We again went for a walk outside, but he was tired. I think it was the biter cold. He's learning how to turn though! I walk with him like a normal dog on a leash, except for the occasional crash into the curb. He did a strange galloping run, which I'm going to ask his vet about. It was like a hopping on three legs. It could be good, I don't know. Then I let him out of his chair to pee, and he didn't fall at all! Even after our exhausting run. I love this little guy so much. After our exercise, I have been using the heating pad, and I massage him. I just lay down in his cage, and he falls asleep. Well, until I stop petting/ massaging him, then I get a giant wagging tail in my face and he looks up for more love. Friday it's PT and the underwater treadmill. Wish us luck.

Saturday Morning

2008-01-19T13:08:00.000-05:00

M. woke me up round 10:30- I get so excited to see her, and yet she makes me work. Her and some other lovely volunteers helped me get in my cart, and off we went into the lake snow which had been falling since morning. I ran out- bumping into walls as I went. But I ran. All by myself. I'm so used to being next to people that at first I don't know what to do. So M. flails her arms, and I come running full speed. Watch out, I'm liable to run you over (as long as you are straight ahead of me). I ran through the snow covered grass, which is much harder than on the cement. I love the squeak in the ball, but have never chased one, so I just watch with excitement (really I love watching M. run after the ball like an idiot). Everyone at the shelter was so happy to see me playing. Then after I was too tired to play anymore (10 minutes wore me out) M. showed me a place I'd never been to- the end of the fence, where I could stay watch and see the world. I came in and surprised M. by showing her that I had learned to back up! So when I hit an object I back up- then go forward, and run back into it. I'll be working on turning this week. M. let me slither out of my cart (my best skill), and I realized the doors were open and ran over to the office the see the kitties. I need to be more stealth, or they are going to start shutting the doors around me. No one expects to see me hopping around- so they let me snuggle up and love me when I run up to them (even if it is to see if there is any kittie poop to smell). Tomorrow everyone else learns how to get me into my chair. . . more playtime! Pictures to come soon.

The Story of How M. and I met

2008-01-19T00:06:00.000-05:00

S., a very kind worker at Animal Services League, met my new best friend M. at dog school. They both apparently have little mean dogs who needed a lot of school. S. asked M. to help with my transport to my physical therapy appointments, and this week she came in to see me and get the lay of the land at ASL. I charmed her immediately with my tragic sad act- but she saw through it- I think it was the eyeball and stuffing she found in my crate when she let me out, then she got me all fired up playing with me. She made me work hard to go outside, and then threw snowballs at me (one which I caught). We came back in, and I collapsed in her lap, and I knew I had her wrapped around my three little paws. I think I sealed the deal yesterday on the ride to pet therapy, when I laid my head on her lap and farted in her car. She sure worked me hard though! But I did love the freedom of running on the farm after her. I'll catch her one of these days, or she'll trip and fall- then I'll trap her in a slobbery slime of kisses. A dog can dream.

Too Pooped

2008-01-19T00:03:00.000-05:00

Today was exhausting. I didn't move for the entire hour while M. (my PT partner) fiddled around and then put on my soft caps. We're hoping these help me get a bit of traction on the floors of the shelter, so I can practice my three legged walk.

Sammy is My Co-Pilot

2008-01-18T16:25:00.000-05:00

Today was our first day of PT. I picked Sammy up and he hopped right in the passenger side of the car. He loved the car. He was able to see out the windshield, and he alternated staring and sleeping with his head on my leg. We got to Thera-Vet early, and Sammy crashed into a tree in the snow. But he got right up and hopped into the office. Dana, Dr. Browne's assistant (and husband) was so nice- and put him in their beautiful exam room, which had a massage mat on the floor! Dr. Browne came in and massaged him, as she examined his body. He has arthritis in his front elbow, and a lame ankle. He refused 2 treats, due to their "lite" nature. We adjusted his cart and got him in it. After a few crashes around the small office, we took him outside. He loved running towards me, as Dana helped his hind- but really he was doing it on his own. It was so great to see him from that vantage point. He only made it up the driveway and back, and he was tired. Our goal this week is longer walks, and more exercise.