Pet With 4 Prosthetic Paws and Cancer Becomes a Therapy Dog Because She's the Definition of a Fighter

Updated on April 2, 2018 at 12:20 PM

Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell, a woman from Arizona, knew she needed to do something when she saw a video on social media about a recently rescued golden retriever from South Korea who was found with wires around her legs in a dumpster and left for dead. The tissue damage was so severe, the dog ended up needing all four of her paws amputated. Elizabeth told POPSUGAR that after talking it over with her husband, Richard, they decided to adopt Chi Chi.

"I fell in love with her sweet eyes, loving spirit, and will to live," said Elizabeth. "I couldn't get her off my mind and kept talking to my husband about her. We didn't know what had happened to her or her prognosis but decided that she needed to join our family forever."

Once the Howells contacted the rescue group, Chi Chi officially became part of their family two months later when she was healthy enough to make the trip to the US. And although Chi Chi was a little timid at first, she quickly got accustomed to her new life stateside and even has her own Instagram account.

"She was afraid of people when she first arrived and was also in some pain and discomfort but she still had a sweet and loving spirit," explained Elizabeth. "It didn't take long for her to bond with our family and realize that she was safe and that we were going to protect her so no one could ever hurt her again. Slowly over time, she decided to forgive and trust people again."

Taking care of a dog with special needs wasn't easy at first, especially because Chi Chi didn't have her prosthetics yet.

Our routine is much easier compared to when she first arrived. When she first joined our family, she didn't have prosthetics, so my husband and I spent 30 minutes every morning wrapping each leg in cotton and gauze to provide protection so she could walk around our house and yard. Sometimes the bandages would fall off only a few minutes after we put them on, so there was a huge learning curve for us. We had to be creative in coming up with solutions to make things work, and there wasn't much information or help available. Now, she has custom prosthetics so it only takes 5 to 10 minutes to put them on each morning and take them off at bedtime.

Although sweet Chi Chi has overcome so much already, the journey to recovery isn't over yet: "She's battling a very aggressive nasal cancer. We are doing everything possible to help her win her battle with cancer, and we know we have a long and difficult road ahead."

Now, Chi Chi is a certified therapy dog and obviously, her new friends can't get enough of her.

"Everyone who meets Chi Chi loves her. She is so loving and joyful despite all of the challenges she faces," she said. "She's an inspiration and brings happiness and joy to people all over the world."