Gus may only have two hind dogs to help him move around, but he is one amazing dog who loves adventure!
Gus’s two front legs were short and non-functional. His previous owner dumped him somewhere in South Dakota when he was four months old. His rescuer surrendered him at a local shelter where Melody Rezzonico, a dog lover and adventurer from Wyoming, found him.
When Melody first saw Gus, she knew that she was the perfect dog for him despite his disability. She fell in love with Gus’s pleasant and friendly disposition. Melody didn’t care about his special needs, because for her, he was worth fighting for.
Melody brought Gus home and introduced him to her two other dogs. Gus didn’t have a hard time getting along with the other dogs. Surprisingly, he was the most active among her three dogs! Gus didn’t let his two front legs stop him from exploring outdoors.
Melody got a custom wheelchair for Gus to help him freely move every time they were out for an adventure. The wheelchair helped Gus to navigate the rocky paths, but there were times that he couldn’t go around because his wheelchair would tip off on some uneven surfaces. Melody thought of another way to help Gus fully enjoy outdoor adventure.
Melody and Gus went from Wyoming to Virginia to go to OrthPets, an animal prosthetics shop that specialized in manufacturing custom mobility devices for pets. Gus’s body was measured for a custom body shell prosthetic. Melody requested for a snowboard-shaped prosthetic so that Gus would easily maneuver in the snow during winter.
Gus has different prosthetics to use on different terrains and weather! Despite his disability, Gus has tried a lot of outdoor activities, which include backpacking, swimming, and kayaking. He has been to dunes and even climbed mountains as high as 14,000 feet!
For Melody, all dogs deserve to live life to the fullest, despite their looks and disabilities. Indeed, Gus’s rescue story is something to remember, and hopefully, a lot of people will be encouraged to adopt a dog like Gus.
Photos courtesy of the3gs_and_melody via Instagram