VANCOUVER, WA (KPTV) -
He may have lost his front legs, but not his will to survive.
London, a pit bull from California, was brought to Vancouver, WA, for medical care after he was dropped off at a shelter with severely fractured front legs.
The Humane Society of Del Norte in Crescent City, CA, called Amanda Giese, who runs Panda Paws Rescue, a special needs animal nonprofit rescue organization, out of her home in Vancouver.
"To us, he's our little gold medalist," said Giese who re-named the pit bull London after the London 2012 Olympics.
She said the original owners didn't give a clear story of what happened to the dog, but based on his injuries, vets believe he fell from a second- or third-story window and was then left injured for at least a month.
"Once he fell, he was pretty much stuck where he was at, until he eventually learned how to navigate around," Giese said. "He clearly had been left on hot concrete or pavement. The bottom of his paws were covered in burns."
Giese, who has years of experience caring for special-needs animals, picked up the dog this past Monday.
"As soon as I gave him treats, took him out onto the grass, he instantly lit up," Giese said. "He knew at that point there was a different journey for him. He wasn't going back to a place where he was in pain."
Even though London learned how to move around his injuries, veterinarians determined amputating his two front legs would be the best option for his long-term health. He went in for surgery on Wednesday and while he has weeks of recovery and physical therapy ahead of him, he's healing like a champ.
"We knew he was definitely a winner, definitely going to succeed," Giese said.
Giese expects London will be able to go up for adoption within a month or so to a very loving home.
For more information on London or Panda Paws Rescue, visit http://www.pandapawsrescue.com/
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
