Special Needs Pet Feature: Otto

There are so many caring pet parents out there who take care of special needs pets. To bring more attention to these joyful animals, and extraordinary people, this is a new feature to my blog. If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email my mom through our website contact. Send a photo and we will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.

What is your pets name?

Otto

How old is your pet?

About 7

Where did you get your pet?

I adopted Otto when he was 4, just after he lost his leg.  A man found him on the side of the road and turned him in to a local rescue.  Otto was at an Adoption Day at Petsmart and I fell in love, but my other dog, Baby, was going through a few surgeries at the time.  I told myself that if he was still available after Baby healed then it was meant to be.  And sure enough, a month later no one had adopted him, so I scooped him up!

What is your pets physical challenge?

Otto lost his back left leg after we think he was hit by a car.  They tried putting pins in it, but he just didn’t respond well to that so they took the leg off and he did great!

What is your pets favorite thing to do?

Otto LOVES his squeaky stuffed animals.  He even takes them outside to go potty with him.

What is your pets favorite thing to eat?

The appendages of his stuffed toys – ears, legs, tails, etc.

What do you love most about your pet?

Otto is the most affectionate dog I have ever known.  He just wants to be with me either on my lap or at my feet.

What has your pet most taught you?

Otto has taught me that dogs really do understand things that we say.  I took him to an animal communicator, and he understood everything I asked him and even responded with childlike answers.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I recently took Otto to private lessons and he learned a lot of new things, one of which is “gentle”.  He tends to take treats from you rather aggressively and I wanted him to learn how not to do that.  I tell him “gentle” and he gives me a little lip curl (just to let me know he’s still a tough guy!) and takes the treat like a nice dog.

Otto you are quite the character and we are so happy you stopped by!