The risk of a dog suffering some kind of injury to one of its legs is always possible, but it is far greater for all those dogs who live on the streets. The danger, violence, and neglect to which stray dogs are exposed to, put them at a disadvantage, and many struggle to survive in deplorable conditions.
Life on the streets is the only world many dogs in our country know, so for them, any unfortunate circumstance is just one more test to face. If they weren't docile animals with great survival instincts, they wouldn't fight the many battles they do daily.
Incidents caused by humans, fights between stray dogs, or disease are just some of the hundred causes that can lead to injuries to a zaguate; in many cases, the damage is so severe that the best option is to amputate one or more of its little leg.
From the moment we rescue a zaguate, we began to write a new story together with them. We fight so that this second opportunity will lead to a much more hopeful life.
We have helped many doggies through the years, and although some lost one or two of their legs, they have taught us that the most important thing in their lives is not what they lack, but what they have: the love they found in Territorio of Zaguates and, in the best of cases, that of a family who adopts them.
Our dearest Ramona is a living example of the resilience of dogs. A vehicle ran over her and crushed her two front legs, and although now she only has part of them, she managed to adapt quickly and is a very happy dog.
Another three-legged Territorians is the well-known Orotina: he is known for being one of the most restless dogs in the pack, and his favorite activity is digging giant holes in the shelter's gardens.
Vagabundo is another of the dogs that made the amputee list. His rescue was complicated because he always ran away. He lived on the streets with a wounded leg that got progressively worse because the bone was exposed. We even made a handmade cage to capture him, but he stopped frequenting the places where he was seen. After several attempts, we finally found his whereabouts and could rescue him. His leg had to be amputated because there was no way to reverse the damage.
Another similar story is that of Toño, whom we rescued with an open fracture in one of his hind legs and also had to be amputated. Now he is a whole different dog: happier, but with the same love and loyalty that characterizes him.
These puppies are joined by Pingüino, Palomo, and Renca, to mention just some other territorians who have lived a similar story and have come to live perfectly good lives. Their recovery has been very successful thanks to the care, rehabilitation, patience, and love that surrounds them in our shelter.
We know that their body will not be the same, and without a doubt, their life will not be the same. After their rescues and medical attention, they've managed to find hope and leave a lot of pain behind. Most of them live a better and happier life than before.
The nobility that these dogs show us every day fills our hearts and pushes us to continue doing our work for the welfare of all stray dogs of our country; in the end, the love we receive from all of them is the greatest reward we could get.
