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Life Lessons on Four Paws (and Two!)
Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.
In a quiet hallway at the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, an unlikely quartet brings smiles to patients’ faces and life-affirming motivation to their recoveries.
Domenick Scudera, a theater professor with an enormous heart, regularly visits with his trio of two-legged pups – Cyrus, Lucky, and Deuce.
While animal-assisted therapy is nothing new, these pooches have a unique superpower that leaves an indelible impact.
Inspiring Resilience, One Wagging Tail at a Time
“It’s wonderful, and it’s almost always the same,” Scudera says with a warm smile. “People will say the same thing. They’ll say, ‘If he can do it, I can do it.’ They say that to me all the time.”
Like the amputee patients they visit, Lucky (with only front legs), and Deuce (who has legs only on his right side) have endured unimaginable trauma that led to life-altering surgeries.
Yet years later, their zest for life and loving demeanors provide profound comfort and inspiration.
Kathleen Liebsch, an occupational therapist witnessing this first-hand, recalls a poignant moment with Deuce and her patient, who had lost a leg and arm on the same side. “I’m working towards that, too,” the patient told her, seeing the parallel with Deuce’s can-do spirit despite his own challenges.
“It was pretty inspiring,” Liebsch remembers, her eyes sparkling.
A Journey of Resilience and Unconditional Love
About 12 years ago, Scudera’s life took an unexpected turn when he adopted his first two-legged pup, Cyrus – a scruffy terrier mix abandoned at a shelter.
This experience awakened a profound realization – that disabled dogs have an unparalleled ability to touch lives.
Soon after, Lucky (from Egypt) and Deuce (found in a Kentucky ditch) joined the pack, each with their own harrowing tales of survival.
Yet at home, they’re just regular pups – Cyrus the loving velcro dog, Lucky the boundless ball of energy, and gentle Deuce with his admirably unfazed gait.
“Disabled dogs are difficult to place, but if you adopt one, the rewards of having a dog that’s different are so great,” Scudera shares sincerely. “You gain so much by having a dog that’s different.”
A Priceless Gift
Beyond the immense love and joy his furry companions bring daily, Scudera has witnessed their profound impact at the hospital time and again.
Whether it’s a patient embracing one of the pups in shared solace or a non-verbal child expressing pure adoration through a newly-gifted communication device, the trio radiates an infectious happiness.
“Dogs are just full of happiness,” Liebsch affirms. “That might be the highlight of their day.”
As Scudera reflects on the ripples of inspiration his pack has created – from amputees finding motivation in their resilience to others choosing to adopt disabled pups themselves – a profound sense of purpose washes over him.
“I hate to think that there’s dogs in need somewhere and no one wants them,” he says resolutely.
Thanks to his family’s boundless compassion, many lives – both human and canine – have been forever transformed through the simple yet priceless gift of unconditional love.
For more awesome dog stories, be sure to read these too:
- Riona: The One-Eared Wonder Who Overcame Tragedy with Unmatched Courage
- Pup Ducking On Railroad Tracks For Days Finally Finds His Miracle
- Owners Discover The Shocking Reason Their Deaf Dog Stares At Broken-Down Truck
- Owner’s Eviction Leads To Tiny Dog Being Surrendered To Shelter
- What Rescuers Discovered About The Motionless Dog In Ditch Was Unbelievable