Jul 24, 2007 8:46 am US/Mountain
Kandu The Dog Brings Hope To Hospital Patients
Jack Russell Terrier With No Front Legs Finds New Family In Colorado
by Jodi Brooks
OAK CREEK, Colo. (CBS4) ―
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The 10.5 pound dog, whose previous owner thought couldn't have a good quality of life because he was born without his two front legs, now serves as a therapy dog as part of the Heeling Friends Program. Kandu visits hospital patients to give them hope.
CBS
Nearly 2 years after he was taken to the Evergreen Animal Protective League to be euthanized, Kandu the dog has a new home with a family near Steamboat Springs. The Rogers have given the Jack Russell Terrier special devices to help him get around, ski and serve as an inspiration to people.
The 10.5 pound dog, whose previous owner thought couldn't have a good quality of life because he was born without his two front legs, now serves as a therapy dog as part of the Heeling Friends Program. Kandu visits hospital patients to give them hope.
"He's just joy," said Melissa Uchitelle-Rogers. "That's all he is, he's just pure joy."
CBS4 first featured Kandu in November 2005 when he arrived at the protective league. Melissa and her husband Ken were the couple selected to adopt the energetic dog after more than 100 applications and interviews.
"I feel an obligation to give him everything I can give him," said Ken Rogers.
Kandu now mostly moves around on a specially designed set of wheels that weigh 6.5 pounds.
"It's almost instantaneous from 'oh, what happened to your dog,' to 'oh, that's so cool,'" said Melissa Uchitelle-Rogers. "Look at what he can do and such a neat thing to see."
Kandu doesn't seem to know that he is different from other dogs.
"Here's his mono ski," said Ken Rogers. "It's a great device, weighs less than 2 pounds, wax up the bottom of it, flies down the hills, has a great time on the mono ski."
Kandu wears a sleeve from an old sweatshirt to protect his chest in the snow. Ken is now working on something for the water so Kandu can swim. And there's more.
"We saw a busted up baby-buggy down at the second hand shop at Oak Creek," Ken Rogers said. "So we picked it up and I think it might be good for his next device, his off-road device."
Kandu recently was in the Steamboat Springs 4th of July parade. He also has t-shirts which are for sale on his Web site. All the money benefits Heeling Friends and the Evergreen Animal Protective League.
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