Three-Legged Street Dog So Shut Down Until Rescuer’s Kindness Reopened His Heart

Natalie Hoage |

Mar 23, 2024

Discovered as a stray roaming the streets of Los Angeles, Charlie Brown was rescued with a devastating leg injury that required amputation surgery. Fortunately, he was able to recover in the care of a nurturing foster home. Though unaware at the time, he would soon experience the elation of being adopted into a loving, permanent fur-ever home where he could truly thrive.

Dog Rescue: A Streetwise Pup Loses a Leg but Beats the Odds and Finds a Forever Home

Charlie Was Hurt and Afraid

One chilly November day, Charlie, a 3-year-old English Toy Spaniel, arrived at the South LA City shelter as an unclaimed stray who was not microchipped and had no owner coming forward to claim him. Upon examination, the veterinarian made a heartbreaking discovery – Charlie suffered nerve damage to his left front leg, likely from being struck by a vehicle. After consulting orthopedic specialists, the difficult decision was made to amputate the leg since Charlie had completely lost use of it.

Lovebugs Rescue heard that Charlie was disabled and would soon have surgery. They knew he needed a home, and took him into their care a month after he had arrived at the shelter.

Charlie Was On the Road to Recovery

When he arrived at the rescue, one of the rescue’s foster mom’s, Vanessa, chose to take Charlie home specifically because he had special needs and would require a lot of care after his surgery..

Vanessa said that Charlie was very shy upon his arrival and described him as the “he was the most shut down dog I have fostered.” He was scared to go outside and every little thing startled him, “He was always looking behind him when we would go outside for our walks. No one could sneak up on us. I figured something happened to him to make him that way.”

He slowly started gaining more confidence and as he began to feel more comfortable, his sweet, lovable personality blossomed. “As soon as my alarm went off he would put his front paw on the bed staring at me. If my hand was over the edge of the bed then he would give me little short licks.”

Charlie’s amputation surgery happened while under Vanessa’s care and luckily went smoothly. He slowly recovered and Vanessa patiently helped him learn how to live life on three legs.

Charlie Finally Finds a Furever Home

After just a couple of months in Vanessa’s care, she received word that a family was interested in adopting Charlie. The initial meeting was a very special one.

Vanessa was surprised by how quickly Charlie took to his new adoptive mom, “When Charlie met Joanne he gave her a kiss on her hand. That was a huge step for Charlie. He was showing how loveable he truly was once he started feeling safe again.” She added, “His new family is very gentle and they go slow with him.” She happily described them as the perfect home for him and added, “He has a new dog brother named Rusty and Rusty wants to play but Charlie is still a little reserved. Rusty will help Charlie a lot. No doubt Rusty will teach him how to be a dog!”

Despite the challenges he faced, Charlie Brown’s remarkable story shows how rescues battling adversity can beat the odds. This once homeless and injured dog chose to trust again, and captured the hearts of an adoring family committed to showering him with the care, security, and the joys he deserves.