Dogs make tricky things, such as going to the doctor, less scary for kids of all ages. Having a dog that understands the medical condition you have provides a whole other level of comfort. This is exactly what Chance, the therapy dog, who is missing a leg, does for the patients at Shriners Children's Lexington in Kentucky. He is the first therapy dog to work at the institution, but based on his success, it does not appear he will be the last.
Before beginning his career as a therapy dog, Chance was found emaciated with a bullet in his shoulder. Thankfully, the good people at Camp Jean Rescue provided him with the medical care he needed to survive. In the process, his left front leg, collarbone, and shoulder had to be removed.
Andrea White adopted Chance and decided to train him as a therapy dog through an organization called Love on a Leash. "I rescued Chance six weeks after his amputation," she told People. "After seeing how gentle and intelligent he was, as well as obedient, I decided to pursue getting him pet therapy certified. As a former nurse at Shriners, I knew I wanted to focus on visiting patients with limb deficiencies."
Andrea describes a typical “day at the office” for Chance. "Most visits occur in the clinic exam rooms, and the kids just light up when we walk in. Many of them get down on the floor to be closer to him, as do parents and siblings. Everyone is very curious about how he lost his leg," she explained.
More from LittleThings: World's Smallest Therapy Dog Proves That AMAZING Hearts Can Come In The Tiniest Packages!!
Chance makes a big impact on everyone he meets. Emily Yost’s son, Arlo, loved meeting his new four-legged friend. "Meeting Chance was such an unexpectedly profound experience for our family," she explained. "With Chance, I could tell there was another level of relatability and compassion coming from our son. He had a ton of questions after the visit about what happened to Chance and what we could do to help him further.” It was a great teaching moment for Emily, who explained that Chance can do anything he puts his mind to, just like Arlo. Chance modeled how limb differences do not hold anyone back.
Beth English, a certified therapeutic recreational therapist, sees Chance’s magic at work all the time. "Seeing Chance takes away a lot of anxiety and stress around a lengthy visit to our prosthetics clinic," she explained. "A lot of visits for prosthetics can be over an hour long, so visiting with Chance gives patients and families something to look forward to. The smiles on the patients' and families' faces show it all."
