Thought you would enjoy reading about Dare and his role in life. Enjoy.
“People always say that Dare is lucky to have me. Actually, I feel lucky to have him. Dare makes me appreciate life.” Tami Skinner, Dare’s handler
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From Puppy-Mill Victim to Beloved Role Model
Dare, a 3-year-old sheltie, is the ultimate survivor.
This brave little dog was born in a puppy mill, where his back left leg was bitten off when he was just a few days old. Sadly, such injuries sometimes occur in mills — the result of “cage crazy” behavior that dogs may exhibit in stressful, neglectful conditions.
Next, Dare’s front left leg got caught in cage wiring, dislocating the elbow and breaking in so many places it could not be repaired.
He received no medical treatment for either of these devastating injuries. Instead, Dare lived in severe pain until he was 9 weeks old, when the puppy mill owners decided he was too “damaged” to sell and gave him to a rescue group. The mill was later shut down by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Tragically, Dare ended up losing both a front and a back leg on the same side of his body. But his luck was finally about to change.
Adoptive caregiver Tami Skinner entered Dare’s life, giving him a new home — and new hope. The two soon forged a powerful partnership.
At last, here was someone to give Dare the unconditional love he had been craving. Someone to treat him like a normal dog, encouraging him to walk and run on his own. Someone to recognize that Dare’s refusal to give in is what makes him special, not his disability.
Today, Dare and Tami impart their message of healing and fortitude to others with disabilities. They are among the highly trained participants in American Humane’s Animal-Assisted Therapy Program.
In this vital role, the team regularly conducts animal-assisted therapy visits at a facility for adults with disabilities, an amputee support group and a school for children with disabilities.
Dare is in his element as a therapy dog. He loves being the center of attention, and those he meets are amazed by his courage and zest for life.
According to a teacher at the school that Dare visits, “It is interesting that most of our students with special needs immediately accepted Dare as he was, just as he immediately accepted them…He reminds me that I need to let our students realize as much of their potential as possible, not [limit] them by standard expectations.”
The children are equally enthusiastic. “He’s just like me!” a child with a disability exclaimed with delight during one of Dare’s recent visits. It was one of many remarkable moments inspired by a truly remarkable dog.
Please help American Humane continue to make such moments possible by donating to our Animal-Assisted Therapy Program today!
