AR-News: (IL - US)Despite neglect/abuse, 3-legged dog has perfect personality

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http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/012704_ns_threeleggeddog.html


Animal Control cares for neglected three-legged dog
 
By Frank Mathie
January 27, 2004 — What's got a cold nose, a warm heart, and three legs? A German shepherd mix who needs a good home. 

 ABC7 Video Clip

Dogs might be man's best friend, but man is not always a dog's best friend. Take for instance a pooch named Milton who's living at the city's Animal Care and Control shelter these days. Milton's owner apparently neglected him despite a badly injured leg. 

For the past month Animal Care And Control on South Western has had a very special patient. Milton, a German shepherd mix, has just three legs. His right front paw and leg had to be amputated after Animal Care officers brought him in with a badly injured foot. 

"We took him in and one of our vets amputated the leg just to make him more comfortable," said Melanie Sobel, Chicago Animal Care and Control. There was no way to save it. "It was not really a functioning leg." 

The officers who brought him in said the dog was wandering the streets dragging his leg. The owner then appeared and told the officers to take him away. 

"He was very thin. His right paw was hanging to the side. It was an old injury of some sort that was never properly healed," said Norma Torres, Animal Care and Control, Shelter manager. "Well it's cruel to allow an animal to drag his foot and it was bleeding and we could see the bones and the muscles were exposed." 

But this dog that is approximately seven or eight years old and has made a remarkable recovery. One of the most unusual things about Milton is his personality. Now this is a dog that has really gone through a tough, tough time. But he has the nicest personality. He's just about the nicest dog in the world. 

"This is one of the best behaved dogs I've seen in my life as far as temperament and behavior. He's extremely calm. He's extremely happy. He's adaptable," said Sobel. 

Ultimately Milton will go up for adoption but that's still a few weeks off. So don't call Animal Care and Control now, he still has some healing to do. 

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