Paralyzed Dog Returned To Shelter Four Times Is Adopted By A Family Who Finally Gets Him

Mar 04, 2020

Many shelter dogs are not fortunate enough to be adopted by a loving owner, and the chances are even less for dogs who have disabilities. One shelter dog who suffers from paralysis is named Bandit, and he uses a wheelchair for his hind legs. The Shepherd mix has been adopted and returned a total of four times due to the challenges that go with owning a pet with his special needs. This unique dog was being cared for by the Gwinnett Jail Dogs Program in Georgia has now found his forever family.

When choosing a pet to bring into your home, it's not always easy to find the right match. This is even more difficult when dogs have special needs. The Gwinnett Jail Dogs Program is a unique concept that assigns dogs to inmates for them to train and care for. It was in this program that Bandit was living, and he required 24-hour care due to his condition.

Bandit is loved by many people who have gotten to know him because of his friendly and affectionate personality. The inmates and staff were reluctant to see the dog go, but they all wanted to see him in a loving home where every dog deserves to be. It was regrettable on all four occasions when the dog was taken in by an owner only to be returned repeatedly.

It is evident that this dog requires more love and attention than a typical pet. After so many disappointments, it seemed that Bandit might never find a home, but things changed when a unique couple found out about him.

Sue and Darrell Rider discovered Bandit on a Facebook post, and they realized immediately that the dog belonged with them. Since Darrell is bound to a wheelchair, the couple understood the extent of the amount of care that the dog would need, as reported on here by The Dodo. It turned out that Bandit suffered from the same type of paralysis as Darrell, and this commonality helped create a deeper bond between the dog and his new family.

The couple contacted the dog program about Bandit soon after they saw the post online, and they gathered all the details that they needed about the care that the dog would need. It took a month for everyone involved to conclude that the Riders were a good fit as caretakers for the dog, and arrangements were made for them to meet him.

When the couple met Bandit, they instantly felt that he was the perfect pet for them. Despite this happy occasion, people were already realizing that they would miss Bandit and his humorous personality. The parting of the dog was a little bit sad, but there was also a mix of joy at realizing that the sweet dog would finally have the right home to live out his life.

The dog now resides in his new home with the Riders, and it seems as if he had been born there when you observe how comfortable and cozy he is there. The Riders say that the adoption of the dog has lived up to their hopes, and they are very happy to have him. They remarked that having Bandit in their home was definitely worth the wait and effort that was required to adopt him. You can even keep up with him on Darrell Rider's Facebook page!

Do you know anyone who has adopted a disabled pet? Let us know in the comments, and send links to this story for the animal lovers in your circle of acquaintances online.