This is a story that will make you believe in miracles – and the incredible power of a loving home. It’s about Ward, a sweet brown dog who faced unimaginable odds, only to find a family that refused to give up on him.
Imagine this: a stray dog, hit by a car, left severely injured and unable to move his back legs. That was Ward’s grim reality back in January. Someone spotted him, tragically, beneath a parked car, where he’d managed to crawl after the hit-and-run.
When the animal protection team from McKamey Animal Center arrived, it was clear: his hind legs and tail were completely paralyzed.
The vets at the center quickly determined he had a serious spinal cord injury. For many dogs, this might have been the end of the road. But Ward? He was described as the “sweetest, most happy-go-lucky dog” despite his devastating injury.
And that spirit, combined with dedicated care, set him on an extraordinary path.
Ward began rigorous physical therapy, twice a week, including hydrotherapy and stretching. Back at the shelter, the staff tirelessly continued his exercises, working to re-activate his muscles.
Little signs of hope began to appear – his back legs would sometimes kick out in his wheelchair, a clear signal that he was fighting to use them again. Lauren Mann, director of advancement at McKamey, saw the potential: “long-term he’ll be up and walking fully again.”
But every dog, especially one with such special needs, dreams of a forever home. And that’s where Kellyn Murphy and her family from Chattanooga, Tennessee, stepped in. They were looking for a fourth dog, perhaps an older one, or one who had been waiting a long time.
When they met Ward at a fundraising event, they were immediately smitten. They didn’t even look at other dogs. After a “sleepover” trial, Ward officially became part of their family on July 11th.
What happened next is truly incredible. Kellyn, a physical therapy assistant herself, brought her expertise home. She built Ward a standing frame to help him bear weight and used a sling to assist his steps.
Taking her work home became a joyful labor of love.
Weeks after his adoption, something miraculous happened. Ward, who hadn’t been able to wag his tail since the accident, began wagging it again! And then, the ultimate breakthrough: he stood on his own and even took a few steps!
Kellyn believes he has “a lot of potential to keep improving,” and given his progress, who could doubt it?
Caring for Ward, despite his incontinence (which requires diaper cleanup), has added less than an hour to Kellyn’s day. And the reward? “He’s so sweet,” she says. “He brings so much more joy into our lives than it would ever take work to take care of him.”
This is a powerful message for anyone considering adopting a disabled dog. They often wait far longer in shelters, but the love and joy they bring are immeasurable.
Ward was available for adoption for over three months – a long time for any dog, let alone one with his challenges. But when his adoption day finally came, “everybody started crying” at the shelter.
Ward’s story is a shining example of resilience, the power of physical therapy, and the extraordinary impact of a family’s unconditional love.
He was one of nearly 32,000 pets adopted during the Bissell Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” event, and he embodies the spirit of rescue: giving a deserving animal a second chance at a full, happy life.
His journey from tragedy to triumph is a testament to the fact that with enough love and determination, any dog can thrive.
