PHILADELPHIA—Three therapy dogs, each with only two working legs, are helping amputee patients adjust to life after limb loss through encouragement and emotional support.
Cyrus, Lucky and Deuce are dogs on a mission: inspire the patients of Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in Philadelphia to get back on their feet once more and live as they used to.
The three dogs are owned by theater professor and dog lover Domenick Scudera, who found each of them in different locations and different unfortunate situations.
Scudera had the trio trained as therapy dogs to provide comfort and inspiration to those who needed it.
They're part of the animal-assisted therapy program at Bryn Mawr.
“It's wonderful, and it's almost always the same,” Scudera said in an interview. “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.”
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The first of the three he adopted was Cyrus, a small terrier mix who had been abandoned at an animal shelter in California. His two front paws are paralyzed; only his back legs are working.
Lucky was brought to the United States from Egypt. He was found straying on a Cairo street after likely getting hit by a car.
Deuce, on the other hand, was found in Texas, abandoned in a ditch with both his left arm and leg broken and infected. They suspected that he was shot when an X-ray result showed shrapnel still lodged in his legs.
Since 2010, Scudera has been visiting Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital with his late three-legged dog Festus, who passed away due to old age.
He decided to continue his and Festus's mission through Cyrus, Lucky and Deuce, who happily fulfilled their duties despite having only six working legs between them.
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Occupational Therapist Kathleen Liebsch said it is inspiring to see these dogs interact with the patients.
“Dogs are just full of happiness,” she said in an interview with Daily Paws. “That might be the highlight of their day.”
She also once witnessed a patient who'd lost a leg and an arm on the same side identify with Deuce. The patient told Liebsch how he was trying to be like Deuce.
“It was pretty inspiring,” Liebsch remembers.
Beyond their therapy work, Scudera hopes to share the trio's inspirational message with their online followers by posting their stories and photos on their Instagram account, @2legdogs.
Cyrus, Lucky, and Deuce just showed how the world can be a beautiful place again for people and animals who make the most of their situation, given a second chance at life.
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