Strays to the Rescue
Kandu
"Kandu is an unusual little dog. For one thing, he was born with no front legs.
When they took him to be euthanized, the vet said the dog had too much heart and was just too full of life, so he turned him over to Evergreen Animal Protective League (EAPL) ...
I saw Kandu on the evening news and, along with about a hundred other people, called in to ask about adopting him. When I filled in the long application, I mentioned that our rescued Labrador, Bob, was involved in the Heeling Friends program at the local hospital. We thought Kandu would make a cool therapy dog. That idea must have been a plus for us because we were chosen ... He does have a disability, but he certainly doesn't think of himself as disabled.
After completing the certification process for Heeling Pets, we committed to two years at the Yampa Valley Medical Center.
I put his wheels on, and he cruises down the corridors, his roller-blade wheels flashing little lights. Staff members, visitors and patients all stop to say hello. This dog has got such great spirit that it seems to be infectious ... In addition to seeing patients in their rooms, we often stop by the physical-therapy area. Recently we have been spending time there with 10-year-old Tyler, one of Kandu's favorite people. Last summer, Tyler lost his feet and parts of some fingers from an illness. The first time we met, Tyler asked all about Kandu and held the little dog on his lap. Kandu snuggled down and would have happily stayed there all day. Tyler stroked him with a big smile. His mom said she hadn't seen the boy smile for weeks."
— Ken Rogers, motor-sports consultant