Legless Chihuahuas Seeking Home

According to WBSTV.com, a home is being sought for three legless Chihuahuas in New York.

The three Chihuahua puppies were rescued from the state of Virginia by North Shore Animal League America, which is located in Port Washington, New York. All three of the puppies were born missing both of their front legs.

The North Shore League's website states that they believe the missing legs are most likely due to backyard or inbred breeding. The League goes on to call the Chihuahua's condition "unfair" and asks people to not breed dogs "irresponsibly". In addition to seeking a good home for the three pups, the North Shore Animal League is also accepting donations to help with the dog's physical therapy and general care.

The adorable Chihuahuas are almost three months old and, other than being legless, have no health problems. They have been given the names "Carmen", "Pablo", and "Venus de Milo". All three are as active as they can be and tend to help one another out in the process. Because the dogs do depend on one another so much, the rescue group wants Carmen, Pablo, and Venus to be adopted together.

Most people have seen a three-legged dog. A few have might have seen a dog whose back two legs were missing, or simply disabled. But the sight of a dog missing its two front legs, is a little more rare. So, if you have yet to see Carmen, Pablo, or Venus, check out this video on YouTube of the three legless Chihuahuas in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpA5hdbP-wU.

Of course, while it might be rare, the three Chihuahuas obviously are not the first dogs to be missing their two front legs. Two years ago, there was another story of a legless dog in Colorado (eventually) named Kandu.

One serious problem a legless dog faces is that without the two legs there is nothing to prevent its chest area from sliding around on the ground. So, as the dog attempts to play like most normal dogs would, its chest area can become burned, scraped, or suffer other similar injuries.

However, a protective vest can reduce such chest injuries. In the case of the dog Kandu, he was fitted with a protective vest, as well as a wheel device, from a company called OrthoPets. OrthoPets was founded by Martin Kaufmann in 2003 with the mission of helping animals in need through custom fitted orthotic and prosthetic devices.

Hopefully, Carmen, Pablo, and Venus will get the same care from their future family as Kandu.

Sources:

The North Shore Animal League America Staff, "3 Two-Legged Chihuahuas - A Story of Hope", 2007; URL: http://www.nsalamerica.org/campaigns/chihuahuas/

WSBTV Staff, "Legless Chihuahuas Need Home", May 18, 2007; URL: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13345685/detail.html

Evergreen Animal Protection League Staff, "Kandu's Amazing Adventure", 2005; URL: http://www.eapl.com/kandus_story.html

CBS Broadcasting via KUTV Staff, "Two-Legged Dog May Have Chance At Better Life", December 1, 2005; URL: http://kutv.com/pets/local_story_335214701.html

Ortho Pets, "Orthotic Brace or Prosthetic Device for a Dog or Animal, including Stifle, Hock, Carpus", 2007; URL: http://www.orthopets.com/index.html