Breeder wants three-legged pup to have the right home
Bernese mountain dog’s new owner must also have a physical disability
An Edmonton-area dog breeder is looking for someone to adopt an 11-week-old Bernese mountain dog puppy after it was born with three legs.
The only condition is the puppy must go to someone with their own physical disability.
Jennifer Stroesser has been breeding purebred Bernese mountain dog, Newfoundland dog and Newfiedoodle puppies for six years at her Myrnam home near St. Paul. The Bernese, named Thor by Stroesser’s children, is the first she’s bred that needs extra attention.
“We’ve had him at the vet and he’s had his shots and he’s been health-checked and everything,” Stroesser said. “He is a really sweet puppy and because we’ve handled him more and we’ve bottle-fed him, he just wants to be cuddled.”
For the last three months, she has helped Thor eat and play with his brothers and sisters, but now she is hoping the puppy can go to a loving home.
“I was calling around to places, I looked into the War Amps and different places. I spoke to a counsellor who works with families with disabilities and nobody knew anybody that wanted to or would be able to take a puppy,” Stroesser said.
A registered Bernese puppy can sell for up to $2,500, but Stroesser wants to donate Thor.
Doreen Slessor, executive director of Dogs with Wings, said donating Thor is a terrific idea. She said dogs can have a huge effect on a person’s mental health.
“It’s always nice to have someone just like you, so you’re not always the person left out or feeling different all the time. You’re different and so is your dog and you’re different together,” said Slessor.
Slessor’s daughter has a physical limitation and her dog is missing a leg.
She said her puppy gave her daughter someone to relate to.
“It was great for her to have someone just like her in her home,” Slessor said.
Stroesser said she’s received calls about Thor after one of the organizations she spoke with put his information online, but so far she’s only heard from people wanting a free dog.
She would like to see Thor go to a family in the Edmonton area so she can see him as he grows, but would consider sending him elsewhere in the country if he is going to the right family.