A three-legged puppy has enjoyed an amazing rebound after her leg “literally fell off” due to an untreated injury.
Mia, a rescue dog, is currently under the care of Danny & Ron’s Rescue, a pet rescue based in Camden, S.C., and started by Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.
“Danny Robertshaw and I were heartbroken by the overwhelming number of pets displaced by the storm. Determined to help, we began taking in dogs directly from shelters impacted by the disaster,” Danta told people.com in an exclusive interview. “Since then, our mission has grown tremendously — we’ve rescued over 14,500 dogs, all while operating out of our home, where we currently share our lives with more than 140 rescue dogs.”
Mia was one of those dogs following a series of difficult circumstances. Last December, her former owner surrendered the pup to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Control in Charlotte, N.C., because they were no longer able to care for the dog. Sometime before her arrival, Mia suffered an injury that worsened over time.
“We learned that Mia’s leg had been fractured several months earlier, but her owner couldn’t afford veterinary care,” Danta said. “Instead, they tried to wrap the injury at home. Without proper treatment, the leg deteriorated, and by the time Mia reached the shelter, it was so infected and in such poor condition that the bottom half of her leg literally fell off when the bandages were removed.”
Animal control centre personnel took Mia in but didn’t have the resources to treat her, so they reached out to Danny and Ron’s Rescue.
“When we learned about her situation, we knew we had to step in to give her the surgery she desperately needed. We rushed from our rescue in Camden, S.C. to Charlotte, N.C. to pick up Mia and bring her immediately to our veterinarian at CVETS in Columbia, S.C.,” Danta said.
He added: “Once Mia arrived, we immediately had her evaluated by our veterinarian. The remaining part of her injured leg was removed surgically on Dec. 19 to ensure her comfort and prevent further complications. She had a complete amputation of her left forequarter. Her recovery has been amazing.”
Recommended video
Mia has adapted quickly in the weeks since her surgery.
“Emotionally, she’s blossoming,” Danta said. “She’s full of love and enjoys every bit of attention she gets.”
Soon, she’ll be ready for her forever home. The canine is waiting for her surgical site to heal fully before undergoing her spay surgery and then comes adoption.
“Once she’s healthy and cleared by our veterinarian, she’ll be ready to find her forever home,” Danta said, adding, “Mia is a purebred miniature poodle, and she’s just 14 months old — a baby with her whole life ahead of her.”
For now, Mia is displaying a “joyful spirit,” Danta said.