Hops – Our Three-Legged Wonder Rescue Dog

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Hops – Our Wonderful Three-Legged Rescue Dog

This article was originally written in 2014.

I have a sad story in my background:

One day, I came home from a vacation in Key West to find my dear, darling 1-eyed Basset, Blinker, dead in the backyard. She wasn’t just dead, mind you. She had been mauled by my other dog, Mocha.

Now, these two dogs, along with Barley my rescue basset-wanna-be, had been great pals for 3 years. In fact, I took Mocha along for the ride when I went to select a basset from a rescue in Pennsylvania – the rescue has 17 bassets and I needed just ONE. I had no idea which basset I’d be coming home with but Mocha did. She went right over to one-eyed Blinker and laid down as if to say ‘This one! Please! Get this one!’

I was immediately enamored with this beautiful tri-colored basset girl so home we came. Over the three years I had Barley, Blinker and Mocha, I never saw a drop of aggression between them but, then again, Blinker was known to have an attitude upon occasion. She’d bother the other dogs unmercifully. A nip here, a bark in their ear when they were sleeping there. She was full of herself.

So, I imagine that Blinker must have gotten on Mocha last nerve that fateful day in the backyard. Mocha, being of questionable parentage but at least 1/2 Labrador, must have just been done with it. Something snapped. My sweet, gorgeous rescue dog had become a killer.

Quite the sad day indeed, but it only got sadder when I realized that I had no choice but to euthanize Mocha too. You see, I had another dog, Barley, who survived the melee – I had to protect him from this dog I was no longer certain of. And, even more importantly, I had elderly parents who lived with me in the summer.

I just could never have trusted Mocha again, and sequestering her away from people and other pets would not have been fair. Sending her away where she might harm another dog was not an option either. So, with a lot of tears, petting and cooing, she slipped away from my life. Some might say this was a rash decision but I know that it was the right one for me and for Mocha.

So, I had two spots in my heart that were void that day. Barley was moping around looking for his friends, I was in tears daily. I started to peruse the internet. I’ve always been the sucker for a dog down on his or her luck. I’ve had a blind dog, a deaf dog, a 1-eyed dog. I needed someone who really needed me.

Enter Hops – Adopted From The Calvert County Humane Society

I found my rescue dog Hops on the internet when looking for special-needs dogs. He immediately got my attention with his soulful eyes and his three legs. I went to adopt him and bring him home that very day. We’ve never looked back.

Hops was only 11 months old when I adopted him. He’d been hit by a car while just a young dog and his front leg had to be amputated. In true doggie form, he recovered and didn’t even miss his leg. I used to say that he could run like the wind; he just didn’t corner too good….

Hops turned into one of the sweetest souled dogs I’ve ever known. Coming to me with a submissive peeing problem, it took months to get his boy’s confidence up to overcome the problem.

Hops also became quite a hit while visiting the elderly at a retirement home. The elders loved that he moved along so well on just three legs – he was an inspiration to many.

During our 14 years together, Hops was well traveled. He spent a month in New Hampshire in our camper with the rest of our rescued crew, he lived twice in Key West, FL for extended periods. He was always ready for an adventure.

UPDATE May 16, 2012 – Hops suffered a stroke on May 16th in the afternoon; he had just turned 15. He couldn’t walk and, when he looked at me, I knew the time had come. So, he died very comfortably in my arms. He was a wonderful dog, and I was privileged to have been owned by him. He is well missed. He died just 3 months and 1 day after my elderly Mom. I figured that she needed him more than I did.

A Rescued Dog’s Favorite Things

Hops was always appreciative of any toys or affection headed his way. He gave the softest, sweetest licks in appreciation. Here’s a few of his favorite type toys:

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 Multipet’s 11.5-Inch Latex Polka Dot Globken Chicken Dog Toy Westminster Pet Products Westminster 17 Inches Latex Classic Rubber Chicken Toy Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Holiday Squeaking Dog Toys, Brown ZippyPaws X-Large Burrow Log and Chipmunks Squeaky Hide and Seek Plush Dog Toy Outward Hound Kyjen 41005 Star Spinner Treat Toy Dog Toys Scent Puzzle Training Toy, Large, Blue Plush Rabbit Dog Toy

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