Hi hi! My name is Reggie. I’m a little Beagle/Fox Terrier mutt-i-gree (mixed breed), and I was born at North Shore Animal League America with my momma and my brothers and sisters. Momma was rescued from a kill-shelter when we were in her tummy, and she gave birth to us at the Animal League.
All my sisters and brothers are doing very well, thank you, but I have a little problem. I was born with abnormal hind limbs. Both my back legs have laterally luxating patellas, which is a common knee problem and cause of lameness in dogs. Sometimes when I walk, my kneecaps jump out of place and make me tumble over.
Because of this, the Animal League put me in a special program that helps save pets’ lives called the Help Me Heal Program. This special group makes sure that I get all the medical care I need for as long as I need it. They’ll do everything they can to make sure I have the healthiest, happiest life possible.
Right now, I’m only 8 weeks old, so I can’t get corrective surgery. I have to wait until my skeleton is mature, which should be when I’m about 6-8 months old. Then I may be a candidate for surgery or even multiple surgeries to help me walk correctly. If surgery doesn’t work, the Animal League will explore more options. Hopefully, the operation will be all the treatment I need, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
For now, I’m on a strict regimen of daily hugs and ’round the clock kisses. And I’m working out to try and strengthen my legs too! I exercise on a floor that has good traction so I don’t slide all over and hurt myself. The Animal League even found me a foster home that is set up all soft and cushioned – just for me.
I feel very lucky to be able to have such dedicated and compassionate people working so hard for me and other pets like me. The Animal League saves lives every day. Won’t you help by supporting the Help Me Heal Program?
You’ll never guess where I am! I’m in my very own home in a new state called Jersey! I’VE BEEN ADOPTED!! I’m so happy. I have a human momma and daddy and brother and a doggie sister named Daisy! She’s real cool, but I’m the boss! Ha ha… We’ve been having so much fun. I run after her, she runs away…I chase her, she runs away. It’s great!
Then when I was waiting for my new daddy to pick me up in his cool truck, I had to have a bath. I’ll be honest – I’m not wild about baths and I’m even less wild about the dryer, but it was important for me to look my best for my new family. I wanted to make a good impression, so I took a deep breath and took my grooming like a man. Men whine in the tub, don’t they? 