<div><strong>Help Leo the Tri<em>paw</em>d Become a Therapy Dog!</strong>
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<div>The fact that Leo is even here on the path to become a therapy dog is nothing short of a miracle.
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<div><strong>Leo was left to die on the side of the road after being dragged by a truck. </strong>He had a hole in his throat big enough to fit a man’s hand, his paws were scraped down to the bone, and <strong>his front right leg was so badly damaged it had to be amputated</strong> at the shoulder. It was scary and heartbreaking at the same time.
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<div><strong>He spent weeks in the hospital</strong>, and through it all, the pain, the surgeries, the really long recovery, Leo never stopped loving. <strong>Never stopped smiling. Never stopped trusting. </strong>He became a favorite among the folks at Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue (our very own Pyr Protection Army) who cared for him like family and couldn’t help but fall for his innocent soul.
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<div>I met Leo in person a few months ago, after a potential adopter didn’t work out. I was just supposed to foster him but knew he was mine the moment I saw him and every day since I’ve been in awe of his sweet, pure presence. My grandsons are absolutely enthralled with him, they love to gently touch the place where his leg used to be, and they tell me how “cool” it is to feel it. <strong>They aren’t afraid of Leo’s missing leg. They’re touched and inspired by it.</strong>
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<div>And that’s when I realized something:
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<div><strong>Leo’s not just a survivor. He’s meant to be a healer.</strong>
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<div>I’ve seen it before. One of my other Great Pyrenees, Waylon, is a certified therapy dog. So when I saw how Leo naturally connected with people, especially children, I recognized the same beautiful gift. And when my trainer met Leo for the first time, she agreed. We started therapy classes right away.
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<div><strong>Leo has been doing incredibly well. He thrives in class. He wants to learn. He wants to serve.</strong>
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<div>And I know in my heart that he’s meant to <strong>help children who’ve been through hard things, especially those with disabilities or limb differences</strong> who will see themselves in him. This is personal for me, too: my daughter was a patient at Scottish Rite Hospital for most of her childhood, and being able to give back through Leo feels like coming full circle.
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<div><strong>But for Leo to finish his therapy certification he needs to be fully mobile, and there’s one big thing he needs: A custom-built wheelchair to be mobile.</strong>
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<div>Because his leg was amputated at the shoulder, Leo can’t wear a prosthetic. In order to be fully mobile and pass certification, he needs a special dog wheelchair made just for tripods like him.
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<div>We’ve just done the initial consult, and the doctors believe Leo is an ideal candidate. Not only will the chair help him move better but it will take pressure off his joints, protect his spine, and help prolong his life.
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<div><strong>But the cost is steep and candidly we could use your support. I wish I could cover it myself, but I can’t… not alone. So I’m reaching out for help.</strong>
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<div>The doctors we’re working with outlined a plan for Leo:
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<li>The custom wheelchair designed and made to fit his body
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<li>Medical fittings and therapy evaluations as Leo learns to be fully mobile again
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<li>Several rounds of adjustments and follow-up care to monitor changes and make sure he remains comfortable
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<div><strong>Please, Can You Help Us Bring Leo’s Dream to Life?</strong>
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<div>Leo shouldn’t have survived. But he did.
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<div>He shouldn’t have been so trusting after all he’s endured. But he is.
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<div>And now, this brave, three-legged boy is ready to bring healing and hope to others.
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<div><strong>All he needs is a little help getting there.</strong>
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<div>If you can, please donate to help us get Leo his wheelchair and complete his therapy certification. Every gift, no matter the size, brings him one step closer to rolling through hospital halls, comforting children, and showing the world that survivors are superheroes too.
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<div>And if you can’t donate, sharing Leo’s story is just as powerful.
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<div><strong>From the bottom of my heart (and Leo’s big, brave one too):</strong>
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<div><strong>Thank you. Thank you for believing in him and in what second chances can do. </strong>
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Debbie DiSalino-Slocum

Nancy McNeil

Help Leo the Tripod Become a Therapy Dog

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