September 3, 2021
A paralyzed dog who comes from Iran is in a Boston dog shelter looking for a permanent home.
Teddy is his name. He’s a two-to-three-year-old Maltese mix who now gets around using a special wheelchair.
Teddy was rescued by PAWS New England after his owner in Iran surrendered the dog, the organization said in a press release. It said Teddy’s rear legs were paralyzed by abuse from the boyfriend of his owner.
Teddy narrowly made it to the US before a new ban from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took effect in July. The ban limits the entry of international rescue dogs coming from high-risk rabies countries such as Iran.
Once the pup arrived in Boston, PAWS New England discovered that Teddy suffered a spinal injury from past abuse that paralyzed his back legs. It fitted the formerly shy Maltese with a wheelchair that got him moving again.
“When he got his wheels, he was happier. Teddy doesn’t realize there’s anything different about him. He acts just like any other dog! He deserves to have the same opportunities,” Teddy’s foster mom Leila said in a HandicappedPets.com video.
Neurologists and canine rehabilitation specialists at Boston Animal Hospital PT are optimistic that Teddy will eventually regain the use of his back legs and walk without assistance.
PAWS New England says potential new family members can learn more about him and submit an application via his website, https://pawsneweng land.com/adopt/pet-10937/.