Bandit Adopted

From Sacramento Bee:

“Dog that uses a wheelchair struggled to find new home – until now, Georgia group says”

A paralyzed dog that struggled for years to find a home just landed the “perfect match,” Georgia officials say. Bandit is adjusting to his newest family after he was adopted and returned at least three times, Gwinnett County officials told WSB-TV and other news outlets last week. People who adopted Bandit meant well, but they thought his needs were too demanding, WXIA reports. The dog uses a wheelchair after heartworm treatment caused paralysis in his hind legs, according to the Gwinnett Jail Dogs program. Now, Darrell Rider is offering help from a unique perspective, WAGA reports. Rider, who also uses a wheelchair, felt a special connection to the pup, according to multiple news outlets. “If you look at Bandit, he’s me,” Rider told WXIA. “If you look at his paralysis — waist down — same thing I have.” After weighing the level of care the chow mix dog needed, the Rider family adopted him last week, according to Gwinnett Daily Post. “We’re not going into this blindfolded,” Darrell told the newspaper. “If we really felt like we couldn’t give him that final home and that support that he’s going to need, we wouldn’t be here today.” Photos show Bandit bonding with his new owner as he gets friendly pats on the head, according to the Facebook page for Gwinnett Jail Dogs. Bandit was in the program, which takes dogs from a shelter, assigns them to inmates and trains them. The facility is roughly 30 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The pet owner’s first name is spelled Darryl in at least one media report.

^ This is one of those stories that makes you feel sad and happy at the same time. You feel bad that the dog needs a wheelchair and that he wasn’t adopted for so long, but you also feel happy to hear that he was finally adopted. ^

https://news.yahoo.com/dog-uses-wheelchair-struggled home155659765.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=