Working in an animal welfare program, calls about abandoned puppies are a common occurrence. Mayan Families Hope for the Animals works to help promote animal welfare, rescue and rehome injured and abandoned animals in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala. We are contacted regularly requesting help for street dogs or abandoned puppies. On this particular day we were contacted regarding a litter of young puppies left outside a family home. Fortunately of the 7 puppies the family had found homes for 6, the last one however had a problem with her foot and so was ‘undesirable’.

Meet Cahuita. This beautiful little ball of fluff would make anyone’s heart instantly melt. How you could not fall in love her is beyond me.

She was the perfect, cute, cuddly puppy except there was something slightly off. When she walked she dragged her back leg and her little paw was folded backwards so she was actually walking on the top side of her foot rather than the pads.

Without the help of the family and Hope for the Animals, her prospects were very bleak. Life on the street is harsh, especially for the young and injured.

After consultation with the vet and x-rays it became clear Cahuita’s pelvis was shattered and her leg also dislocated at the joint. The injury was old and had already started to heal in the awkward position. The foot was frozen in position and could not release back. Assumed to be sciatic nerve damage there was little alternative than to remove the leg. Only 7 weeks old, surgery was delayed to see how she grew and to be sure she was strong enough to cope with major surgery.

In the meantime, Cahuita carried on charming everyone. She became quite the office mascot and claimed the heart of her carer, securing herself a permanent home. Walking, running and playing, her leg has never held her back.

A border collie/spaniel mix judging by her looks, she is smart and loves exercise and play. The improvised paw protection using a Guatemalan baby slipper worked remarkably well and protected the top of her foot from cuts or blisters as her skin was sensitive and exposed.

December 7th just over three months of age and due soon for surgery most likely to amputate the leg, her foot flipped back. Without warning or event prompting, it just flipped back to normal. The vet cannot explain it and has no medical rationalization for how it could have happened.

One little once ‘undesirable’ puppy, a lot of love and inexplicable life force has baffled vets and proved ‘miracles’ can happen. This beautiful pup has defied the odds and will remain running on four legs for many years to come.

More info: Facebook

Puppy dog eyes

Foot frozen in backwards position

Happiness is new adventures…

It’s tiring work being so cute…

6 months old and passed her physical with flying colours – foot healed, joint regained almost full range of movement and no limitation to walking or running. Surgery no longer required!

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