Chi Chi, the inspirational five-year-old quadruple amputee therapy dog, died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones in February 2019. Such a short life for an exceptional dog who touched the lives of many people.
This Golden Retriever who won the 2018 Hero Therapy Dog Award, had a traumatic past. She was a meat trade survivor who fell into the hands of a butcher in a slaughter region in South Korea when she was two years old.
When the butcher found her meat of no use, Chi Chi was wrapped in a trash bag and thrown in a dumpster. Bound by tight wires, her legs started to rot.
Luckily, animal workers found Chi Chi and brought her to the hospital. Her legs got severely infected, which necessitated amputation. The Animal Rescue, Media, and Education posted Chi Chi’s predicament through Facebook videos to help her find adoptive human parents who could give her love and care.
A kind couple, Elizabeth Howell and Richard Howell, watched her videos. They knew that it was a big responsibility to take her in but had no qualms about helping a pooch in dire need.
That beats all! Two months after undergoing surgery, Chi Chi flew to her forever home in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2016.
This brave canine recovered quickly and settled in with the other pets rapidly. The couple and their daughter, Megan, admired her resilience, cheerful disposition, and empathy.
Sensing that she would make a good therapy dog to humans who lost limbs, the Howells had her trained until she got certified. She visited hospitals, veterans in physical rehab, residents of assisted-living facilities, and very young children.
Sadly, this doggie on a high mission was gone too soon. May her strength of will and abundant love inspire humans to live a purposeful life like hers.
Source: American Humane via YouTube