After a troubled start to life, Nora the three-legged wolfhound beardie cross has found a loving home.
Formally known as CJ, Nora was rescued as a puppy from a neglectful home in the West Coast late last year by SPCA Nelson.
Inspector Danielle Tinetti was called to the scene where Nora had been left tied to a fence and neglected for days on end. She was just nine-months-old.
“I went out there got to the property and she was tied up with no water. She was tethered to a broken fence with nails sticking out of it that she was forced to stand on,” says Danielle.
Danielle says whenever she would pull on her tether, the board and nails would flick up and hit her.
Once back in Nelson, it was clear one of Nora’s back legs was causing her a lot of pain. X-rays revealed that an old fracture had never healed and her back right leg had to be amputated.
“She has handled having three legs really well. She has such a lovely temperament, and it doesn’t seem to bother her,” she says.
Nora’s new owners Jordan Irvine and Joel Emery-Jones say they often forget she only has three legs.
“When she runs, she gets a good amount of speed going. People are always surprised when they realise she only has three legs,” says Joel.
Jordan spotted Nora on SPCA Nelson’s Facebook page where she was already gaining a bit of attention for her sweet nature and story.
Jordan says she applied for Nora immediately, even before consulting her partner Joel.
“I’d been wanted another dog for about a year, so I pestered him for a bit, but he gave in pretty quickly.”
Jordan and Joel already had an adopted wolfhound at their Enner Glynn home and knew Nora would fit right in.
“We took our dog Jamu to meet Nora before we adopted her just to make sure they didn’t hate each other,” she says.
To begin with, Jamu was a bit shy towards Nora but now they’re two peas in a pod.
“They get along great, but Nora is definitely the boss,” says Jordan.
Jordan says she wasn’t aware to the full extent of Nora’s abusive upbringing when they brought her in. She found out about her past through a follow-up SPCA Facebook post a few weeks later.
“I cried when I found out. I was at the vet with her when I saw the post. It was hard to read, we just love her,” she says.
Danielle and the team at SPCA Nelson are also thrilled with Nora’s rehoming.
“It’s really important to us to make sure we send these dogs to the right home and Nora’s story is a prime example. She’s a superstar,” says Danielle.
