Video Courtesy of KSL.com
This Salt Lake City pit bull is melting hearts, busting stereotypes, and proving that a disability doesn't have to slow you down.
Piggy, a pit-bull/boxer mix, can walk with only her front legs. Her hind legs were paralyzed three years ago in a hit-and-run car accident that shattered most of her spine. No one specifically said the dog should be put to sleep, "but that was the implied recommendation," her owner, attorney April Hollingsworth, told KSL-TV.
Yet Hollingsworth kept her dog alive, and now Piggy has a new purpose. Secured to a cart with wheels to help her get around, Piggy volunteers as a trained therapy dog at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Salt Lake City, which provides free surgeries to children with spinal cord injuries, orthopedic disorders and other similar conditions. Every couple of weeks, Piggy calls on children who are recovering from surgery or waiting to be fitted for casts or wheelchairs.
Piggy is amazingly gentle, Hollingsworth says. The dog can be relied on to nuzzle a baby's nose or calmly lick a treat out of a child's hand. Sometimes, children get so excited to see Piggy that they have to be reminded to stay in their beds. She is one of four dogs that volunteer at the hospital through Intermountain Therapy Animals, a nonprofit organization that tests and trains all of its therapy dogs to make sure they work well with children and hospital patients.
"The kids love the dogs," Shriners recreation therapist Laura Lewis told the Salt Lake Tribune. "I've witnessed moments where a child hasn't talked to anyone else, but the second that the dog comes in the room, they will just sit down and tell a dog how they're feeling and what scares them."
Piggy attends regular therapy sessions to strengthen her back legs. In the meantime, she will continue putting smiles on the faces of everyone she meets.
"If we're lucky, we have something to give the world to make people happy," Hollingsworth told KSL-TV. "Some people can sing and that's their gift, and some people have money where they can start foundations and that's their gift. I have this great dog who spread happiness wherever she goes."
Related Videos
More Cute Stuff
- Lion Love (Daily Squee)
- This Cat Means Business (I Can Has Cheezburger)
- Zebra Tan! (I Has a Hotdog)
- Cat Guys or Dog Guys? (Petside)
- Reducing your Carbon Paw-Print (Discovery)
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
Can't Miss Galleries
Today's Popular Articles
3 Tips for Dining Out With Your Dog- Why Vets Can't Always Smell What You Smell
- Dog Catnaps With Kittens
What a great story, Daphne!
Pit bulls are dangerous and aggressive, it is not just the owners. I am an attorney in Indianapolis and have dealt with these cases as of late. Did you know that nearly 90% of all debilitating and deadly dog attacks occur at the jowls of a pit bull? As far as all of you claiming that there is a pit bull hatred and that we are all uneducated, no we are not. They have been bred to fight and be territorial, but what comes with that is an animal with a "propensity towards viciousness" a term in the law used to attribute liability to pit bull owners for their knowledge that it is a dangerous breed. As a friend of mine describes it, they are cute and sweet until they bite someone's face off. BTW this dog is a mix, she also has boxer, a much more loving dog. Put an end to pit bull breeding, and free the minds of parents who have lost children to this dangerous breed!
I have a pit bull. His name is Pete. He is the calmest dog I've ever owned and loved. He loves to cuddle, play with tennis balls, and chew rawhide. He is wonderful on walks, never paying attention to other dogs (not pit bulls) in our neighborhood that bark at him as he walks by. When other walkers, including children, come up to him in his yard, in the pet store, or on our walks, he will happily wag his tail and wait for the person to come and say hello. He will sit calmly and let them pet him and even give them a lick! I recognize that there have been numerous dog attacks involving pit bulls. However, there have been just as many involving other breeds. It's a matter of making sure you know what your dog is capable of and ensuring that he or she is never put into a situation where he/she may be vulnerable and likely to become aggressive. Any dog is capable of being aggressive if put in the right situation. This is why it is SO important for OWNERS to be aware of where their dogs are, what they are doing, and who is going to be around. Be responsible for your dog! Be knowledgable about his or her instigators! Be loving and breed gentleness! This is a starting point for solving the problem. NOT eliminating breeds.
Hey Kelly - you're an idiot! I don't give a flying 8888 if you are an attorney, obviously all that education can't buy common sense! In case you didn't know PETEY FROM THE LITTLE RASCALS WAS A PIT BULL! Pit bulls are not naturally aggressive dogs. They do what they have been taught. If you foster that same behavior in a pomeranian, that's what you'll get, a nasty pomeranian. So take your eliteist attitude and cram it where the sun doesn't shine!
Kelly...... I am ashamed to even say I am from Indianapolis right now.....Kudos for being a disgrace to the city!!!!
@ Kelly Did everyone notice that he commented as a reply so noone can reply to his comment? COWARD!! I was about to have a temper tantrum on his Pit Hater status. My first thought was, OMG, an attorney, an attorney in the house, he MUST know everything there is to know about PIT BULLS, HE'S AN ATTORNEY!! Attorney over here. Look! An attorney. I like Trish's comment to Kelly that all that education didn't buy common sense. I feel the Pit Bull stereotype is going to live forever because people as low as backwoods no ones paying attention to my kennel full of Pit Fighters all the way up to Vick I am a kazillionaire NFL Football Player and this is what I like to finance Pit Fighters are going to live forever through the people they conspire with and their children. Just as a positive cause will be carried on, so will a negative cause. Kelly will die someday and his/her kids will be taught to be Pit Haters, it's how the World works. As for me, I love Pits, have 1 now and have had 3 previously and know how loyal they are. My daughter loves Pits, lives with 3, my grandson will love Pits. This is where the Pit Haters would insert their biting off my Grandson's face comment. Whereas I would simply comment, "My daughters dogs weren't TRAINED that way. " Piggy is a happy soul and being mixed with Boxer is just another plus. Her owner April is an Angel.****I WONDER DOES KELLY REALIZE THAT APRIL IS AN ATTORNEY AS WELL AND OBVIOUSLY , ADMITTEDLY, IS OVERCOMING HER OWN PIT BULL PARANOIA?***** Wake up Kelly, you're having a bad dream.
Kelly - As an attorney, you should know the difference between "vicious" and "aggressive". ALL PITS ARE NOT VICIOUS. They were bred to fight a long time ago, and they are very strong dogs. A responsible pit owner knows that their dogs' tendency to be aggressive can be handled by exposing the dog to new situations when they are very young and the dog will learn how they are supposed to behave. Boxers are no more gentle than golden retrievers - one of which bit its owners face off, remember that?? I'd suggest you educate yourself a bit more about the specific breed that you're commenting on. Not all pit bulls are vicious, not all labs are vicious. The way they are treated when they are puppies is what shapes the type of dog that they turn into. END PIT BULL HATRED!!!
I've had many dogs in my life but none could hold a candle to my pit bull. She was the most loving, intelligent dog I ever owned. Lady was a rescued dog from a horribly abusive situation. She was so damaged when I got her that I immediately took her to the vet, thinking I would have to have her put down. She was covered in mange, her front feet and neck were torn to shreds where she had worked to free herself from the rope around her neck. This beautiful animal had been left with no food or water. She was trying to cross the street but kept falling down. My husband had a fit when he saw her stating" you can't have a pit bull around the kids" I told him we would get her well then see. Lady was great with my kids. Very patient. She did growl and snap once at my daughter, not lunging at her. Martha had accidentally sat on lady's leg and she was telling her to get off! She never made any move to hurt her. Since her tail was never cut, she could whio you to death with it but always looked very appologetic if you let out a yelp. You had better believe it is the breeders and owners who have caused the problems with this breed. There's nothing wrong with the dog that man didn't cause.
Kelly I have owned and bred gamebred pitbulls for over 30 years and ive never had one bite a human being, i find it hard to believe that youve had any expirience with them at all.
This story came at such a great time. Just a week before this story there was a story about two pitbulls being shot and killed by police while they were attempting to arrest someone. Of course that story got flooded with comments like "Good, two down.. so and so more to go" and things like that. It was wonderful to have a positive pittie story soon after to remind people of the wonderful quality of MOST pitbulls! Dogs like this (not so much the wheelchair.. but the love of people) are the rule, not the exception.
She's a nice dog. Keep doing good piggy's mom.
How ironic. I too have a Miss Piggy who's disabled due to what we've finally concluded to be an unknown spinal injury. My Miss Piggy however has an all limbs disability meaning she is only able to use her 4 legs long enough to reliever herself for potty, or to come down off her ottoman. We carry her outside, for car rides, etc. I am going to see if she'd take to the wagon this summer so we can actually take her for "walks". I hand reared her from just 2 days old, my cousin adopted her at 6 months old, and my cousin passed away when Piggy was just 2 years old. The condition of adoption was always that if anything happened to my cousin, Pig would come back to me. It was about 2 months before my cousin passed that Piggy started displaying issues with all 4 of her legs on and off. That was 3 years ago. I had contemplated euthanasia however, the only thing not working on this dog is her legs. She's happy, healthy, excited, BEYOND lovable and I couldn't justify killing her simply because she cannot walk. I'll carry her for the next 10 years if that's what it takes, as long as SHE'S happy, she lives!
Dear Lorrie:
I too have a young shih tzu (8 months old) whom has not been able to walk. Have taken her to many veterinaries. They can't tell me why she doesn't walk. Has a great love of food, loves every one and it smart as they come. Now I am trying acupuncture. Have 3 more sessions. But then where do I go?
What a beautiful story! I'm trying not to get teared up at work. Yay for Piggy and the important work she does!
American Pit Bull Terriers are some of the most amazing kind hearted loving animals known to man. I have one and she is such a loving beautiful soul! Loves kids, and especially licking there faces, and is great with everyone; except those who seek to cuase me or fellow family members harm that is.
Pit bulls are commonly referred to as "Super Dogs" as they are so intelligent and loyal.
Best companion dog to have for disabled peoples as well.
Then unconstitutional laws regarding specific bans on specific breads are just so ignorant and shortsighted. If someone ever came to my door demanding I give up my pitt bull, they would get a full 000 buck shot to the groin and face. She is my baeutiful daughter and better bahaived/more intelligent han most idiot humans out there these days (So sad the level of education, knowledge, and wisdom these days; Gvot. doing nice job of keeping most of us dumb!).
Thanks for the article, it was very uplifting.
Every single day two things happen to me whilst walkig my beautiful pitt bull; 1) People stop to say how beautiful she is and how big of a smile she has and give her some loveing/petting; and 2) peopl walk to the other side of the street in fear when they see her.
To all those walking to the other side of the street; your fear is more destructive yto you than my dog COULD ever be (Unless you tried to hurt me or my wife that is!).
And I'll say it here just like everywhere else; "don't be afraid of my dog, be afraid of me, she'll just lick you over and over; I'll make you wish you were dead already!"
I love pitt bulls so much; such brilliant creatures full of love and loyalty/honor. Wuish more human beings would learn from pitt bulls!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wold be a better wolrd for sure!
I have to say it again I love PITT BULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Ban stupid people, not beautiful animals!"
As a huge pitbull advocate, and of being a pitbull owner for the past 12 years, this story is amazing. Thank you
How good to see a POSITIVE story about America's most maligned dog, the Pit Bull. My experience with this breed has been positive; they are highly intelligent, remarkably loyal and kindness itself. That is, if the dog has an owner who treats it as it should be treated. The Pit Bull is possibly the strongest dog around and if brutalised by lowlife owners, can be a lethal killer on four legs. Just like a Poodle could be if treated that way. Come to think of it, any dog is much like people; treat them badly and they become anti-social.
I'm glad this wonderful dog gives these children hope. The woman said she was originally looking for her cat? People...please keep your cats indoors and you won't have to go looking for them and they won't kill song birds and baby animals. Also, if your dog is on lead or in a fenced area it can't get hit by a car. I wonder if Piggy was running loose when he got hit by a car? JMO
It's about time people start seeing Pits for the good dogs that they are. I always hear the BAD stories about them never good.. I love my Cinnabun to death.. She is a great dog.. All I have to say is DON'T be so quick to label pits as BAD animals until you have lived with one.. The are the most lovable and protective dog anyone could ever want.. Also Ms. Piggys momma is so right pits loves small kids.. My Cinnabun goes crazy everytime my kids and I come home from work and school everyday.