In February 2019, Chi Chi, a five-year-old therapy dog for quadriplegic amputees, passed away gently while surrounded by her loved ones. It was such a brief existence for a remarkable canine who touched the lives of so many people.
This 2018 Hero Therapy Dog Award winner is a Golden Retriever that had a terrible history. She was a meat trade survivor who, at the age of two, fell into the hands of a butcher at a slaughter district in South Korea.
When the butcher realized that Chi Chi’s meat was of no use, she was placed in a trash bag and dumped into a dumpster. Her legs began to deteriorate while bound by tight wires.
Fortunately, animal workers discovered Chi Chi and transported her to the hospital. Severe infection in her legs meant that they had to be amputated.
A group known as Animal Rescue, Media, and Education shared Chi Chi’s plight on Facebook in an effort to find adoptive parents for her who could provide the dog with love and care.
Elizabeth and Richard Howell, a lovely couple, watched videos of Chi Chi. They realized it was a huge responsibility to take her in, but they had no qualms about rescuing a dog that needed saving.
In 2016, Chi Chi flew to her forever home in Phoenix, Arizona, two months after having surgery.
This courageous dog recovered immediately and quickly acclimated to the other animals in her new home. The couple and their daughter, Megan, loved her loyalty, positive attitude, and compassion.
The Howells believed she would make a terrific therapy dog for amputees, so they had her trained and certified. She visited hospitals, veterans undergoing physical rehabilitation, assisted living facility residents, and very small children.
Sadly, this dog on a mission was taken from us too soon. May her tenacity and overflowing love inspire others to pursue a life of purpose similar to hers.
Source: American Humane
