MANDEVILLE, La. — We have a sweet update about a pup who has been through a lot.
Back in September, we told you about Buddy, the little dog who endured horrific abuse that left him a double amputee.
Now, Buddy is living large. He spent this weekend wheeling around the Krewe du Pooch in Mandeville as an animal ambassador!
The Dachshund-Chihuahua mix still needs some special care, but he gets around just fine on two wheels in his custom-made chair.
Buddy successfully underwent surgery in October, after he was found with his hind legs cut off in Slidell. Three people were arrested and charged with animal cruelty in connection to the case.
Animal care organizations received tons of donations for Buddy during his surgery. A viewer offered to donate her deceased dog's wheelchair, but Buddy needed a custom one. Another Good Samaritan, a crime victim who was injured and lost his own dog during a carjacking, drove to donate $1,000 to Buddy's care.
You can follow along with Buddy's recovery. His new family created a Facebook page for him called Buddy the little dog who survived.
The women of Dante's Hope Rescue East, who rescued Buddy after the horrific case of abuse, said they were relieved that police made arrests. Buddy was found in a trailer park near Highway 11.
"I would guess it might be a saw. I mean, maybe a hack saw, maybe some kind of a blade," speculated Veterinarian Dr. Lee Capone of Lakeshore Veterinary Hospital in Mandeville.
Two of the people arrested were 17-year-olds.
St. Tammany sheriff's detectives say Buddy was shot back in February, the apparent reason for the amputations.
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