Boone, a 4-year-old hound mix, was abused and abandoned at a young age.
Boone’s previous owners intentionally cut off his back legs when he was just a few weeks old, rendering him unable to walk. The dog’s owners then took him to a shelter to be put down. When the staff saw Boone, though, they were so sad that they forgot to fill out the euthanasia paperwork.
Tanya Diable, the creator of Joey’s P.A.W, an organization that has helped over 700 dogs with prosthetics and wheelchairs discovered Boone on Facebook and knew she had the skills and means to help him recover.
So she chose to foster Boone at home with her other six special needs dogs in the hopes of eventually adopting him. But she knew it would be a “foster failure” as soon as she met Boone.
Diable said, “He had no intention of going anywhere else. I was planning on adopting him.”
Boone was given unconditional love and care with Diable’s other puppies for the first time in his life.
But that wouldn’t be the only thing Boone would reclaim after such a difficult start in life. To help the two-legged dog get back on his feet, Diable had a bespoke wheelchair manufactured for him.
According to Diable, “He got into a wheelchair, and the youngster has never been the same. He changed entirely and he wagged his tail for the first time — and I cry every time I mention that.”
Diable recognized Boone’s peaceful nature was exceptional when she initially acquired him, especially for a small pup who had been through so much.
People immediately drew towards him as he recovered, and Diable didn’t take long to recognize Boone’s potential as a therapy dog.
Boone began helping at The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh International Airport when he recovered and passed his Therapy Dog Certification. According to Diable, Boone’s peaceful demeanor helps people who are afraid of dogs.
Boone is also Joey’s P.A.W.’s lovely face, and he inspired Diable to write Bowtie Boone, a children’s book about his life.
This book relates Boone’s narrative to motivate students to achieve their goals regardless of their circumstances.
“He has inspired so many people and put a smile on so many people’s faces,” Diable says.
Based on more than a million votes and a V.I.P. panel of dog experts and celebrity judges, Boone was voted as the American Hero Dog of 2021 at the American Humane Hero Dog Awards. What a well-deserved victory for this courageous dog!
Thanks to Daily Paws for this amazing story. You can follow Boone on Instagram.
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