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Two year old Susie the Shih
Tzu is a Support Dog with a difference. Against all the odds she has
overcome not one, but two disabilities of her own to become a Disability
Assistance Dog for her owner Wyn Butler.
Wyn was left disabled after an accident at work. A crumbled disc had gone
into her spinal column and following an emergency operation, she was left
without feeling in her lower limbs and all the problems that go with such a
severe disability.
Her first Disability Assistance Dog Duffer had retired a while ago and was
less and less mobile, which meant Wyn was once again spending more and more
time in the house and becoming increasingly depressed. She decided to get a
new dog, a small lapdog that would act as a companion and when she saw the
cute bundle of fur that was Susie, it was love at first sight.
Being so small, it never occurred to Wyn that Susie could be trained in the
same way as Duffer, so she was over the moon when that was exactly what
support dogs Head of Training Rita Howson suggested when the couple met
again at the opening of the charity’s National Training Centre. |
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Susie’s training was due to start the
following year but then she developed a limp. At first everyone thought it
was something minor but gradually the limp got worse and Susie was taken for
a check up.
It was very bad news. An x-ray showed that one of Susie’s
leg bones was not growing properly and would have to be broken and re-set to
allow it to grow again. Susie was facing a month with her leg in pot and
even worse, the vet could not guarantee that she would be strong enough work
as an assistance dog. It was a devastating blow, but Susie is a determined
little dog with a mind of her own and was not going to be beaten.
After a nervous wait, the pot was off. Everyone held their
breath…………………
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Susie astonished everyone by running
around like a greyhound and with no sign of a limp! The vet immediately
picked up the phone to support dogs and gave her the all clear to let them
know and Susie was back on course. Then tragedy struck again.
As Susie got out of Wyn’s car one day, she ran round to the
other side to get to Wyn and straight into the path of an oncoming car. Not
moving and making whimpering noises, Wyn rushed Susie back to vet again.
Although her injuries were not life threatening, an X ray showed that Susie
had fractured pelvis and once more, Susie’s hopes of becoming a Support Dog
seemed doomed. Rest and plenty of loving care was her only hope.
To overcome her first disability was an amazing
achievement, but no-one thought Susie would ever be strong enough to work
after this second set back. No-one except Susie that is! |
Within a few months, she was back on her feet and after a series of medical
checks she finally entered training. As you might imagine from such a strong
willed dog, Susie flew through the course showing a remarkable ability to
learn tasks quickly whether opening doors, picking up dropped items or even
fetching the phone. After all the tears and the roller coaster ride of the
previous year, Susie finally qualified in December 2007 and no one was more
proud than Wyn.
Wherever she goes with Wyn, Susie is always the centre of
attention and when everyone is amazed that she is a working dog because she
is so small, Wyn simply quotes her vet:
“She may be small but she has the heart of a lion!”
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