The lesson of persistence is something really important that we can take away from our pets. Dogs are quite determined animals. How often have we tried to relax on the couch after a hard day at work only to find a small furry body next to us nagging us to give them all of our attention? Another example would be those large brown eyes that glare at us while we’re eating until we give in and give them a tiny bit of our chicken or other meat.
While all those minor everyday occurrences are wonderful illustrations of how our dogs persevere until they achieve their goals, there are occasionally more defining events in life that highlight their tenacious personalities. We always witness a dog’s true fighting spirit when they have had a serious, life-altering illness or an accident. They most certainly do not give up, and we can all learn a lesson from it.
Sammi, a Springer Spaniel puppy, had his life completely flipped upside down when he suffered a degenerative neck condition that rendered him a quadriplegic. His owner was naturally horrified and devastated given how suddenly the medical problem had arisen. She had no idea that her dog would never be able to walk again. It was difficult to process the news. Sammi underwent surgery at the California Animal Rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica because the owner was not about to give up on her dog.
To assist Sammi to regain the strength in his muscles and regain the ability to support his body weight and walk once again, animal rehabilitation therapists and vets worked with him there for three months. The dog showed he wasn’t going to give up so quickly over those three months of rigorous physical therapy, and he overcame the obstacle. The dog finally got what he wanted.
After three months of not seeing Sammi, his owner went to pick him up from the rehab facility. The surprise that awaited her caught her off guard. Sammi was able to greet his owner by walking out, which caused the dog’s owner to start crying. Watch the video below to see the touching moment: