Strung up by her paws in a dark room, beaten and then dumped in a garbage can outside a dog meat market in South Korea meant death was almost a certainty for homeless pup Chi Chi but somehow, she got a second chance at life.
“Don’t ever question who can defy the odds,” Shannon Keith, president of Animal Rescue, Media & Education (ARME), told The Dodo of the dog’s inspiring story.
The world first learned about the Labrador mix earlier this year, several weeks after she was rescued from the trash and had all four paws amputated due the cruel treatment she had endured.
“The infection in her legs was so horrific it had eaten away her legs and it [had spread] throughout her whole body,” said Keith – which is likely why she was dumped in the first place because her rotting flesh rendered her unsellable for eating.
The pup underwent months of rehab at an animal centre in Seoul.
“The day after surgery she was trying to walk,” said Keith. “She was smiling and wagging her tail,” Keith continued. “Then, a couple days later, she even started walking on her little stumps.”
Having spent 2 months recovering Chi Chi, whose name means ‘loving’ in Korean, has been adopted by the Howell family from Phoenix, Arizona who were moved by the puppy’s plight.
Earlier this month the 2-year-old flew across the globe to the US to join her new family.
“She can run. She can walk,” Megan Howell told AP. “She can pretty much do anything a real dog can do except go up the stairs.”
ARME had been showcasing Chi Chi’s recovery on YouTube and Facebook, and as devoted supporters of animal welfare the Howell’s, who were just going to initially give money, decided that she really needed adopting into a home.
“When it came down to it, the biggest need was that she needed a place to live,” Richard Howell said. “I think ultimately as we progressed with her story, we just felt a connection with her.”
The Howell’s say perhaps the new addition to their family might be perfect for puppy therapy as her tale of survival might give human amputees, like children and soldiers, encouragement.
“We want to use her story to make the lives of humans better,” said Richard. “I think if we do that, we’re doing something positive in the world.”
Pictures via Chi Chi’s official Facebook.
In the car on the way home form the airport with her new family, the Howells. Pictures via Chi Chi’s official Facebook.
