“It’s not what you can’t do – it’s what you can do, that counts.” – Nigel’s motto.

Nigel, a Border Collie/Spaniel cross, was hit by a car when he was about a year old. A Good Samaritan who stopped to help picked up the injured pup and took him to the local vet, where it was discovered that Nigel had severe nerve damage to his left front leg. The vet hoped that with time, the feeling would return to the limb, but if it didn’t it Nigel would have to undergo an amputation Nigel didn’t have a collar or microchip; and even though information about him was posted on various websites, no one came forth the claim the dog. So after emergency treatment, he was transferred to the Oregon Humane Society, and a search began for a foster home until the fate of his leg could be determined. The Humane Society sent out a notice to all their volunteers, asking if there was anyone who would be able to take care of the dog.

Nigel doing Flyball

Denise Stidmon was on her way to the shelter when she got the email. There had been a bad snow storm, and she had volunteered to come and walk some of the dogs. So she decided to go and take a look at the injured dog. “When I saw him, here was this petite 11 month old dog (he’s only 30 lbs) with a big smile on his face and a waggy tail. I was immediately smitten with him. There was no doubt that he was coming to my home to heal from the trauma he had endured.” Denise intended to foster Nigel until he was well enough to be placed in a permanent home. But it wasn’t long before she realized that Nigel had already found his forever home. “Nigel and I bonded completely,” she says. “In part, it was because of his “can do” attitude, but more so was the fact that nothing seemed to get this dog down. He’s such a happy-go-lucky guy. On his right leg, he had some pretty bad wounds that I had to clean out on a regular basis. I knew it had to be painful but he was so good about it. He also was really shy with new people and would always turn to me for comfort. I realized I’ve been given this special gift of a dog and decided to adopt him.”

Shortly after that, the vet determined that Nigel was never going to recover the feeling in his injured leg, and he had amputation surgery. As Nigel began to heal, it became obvious that despite having only 3 legs he was an athlete at heart. “Nigel is extremely agile. He could jump up on my bed, which is about mid-thigh high. I was really impressed,” Denise says. “When I have him come inside, he likes to run full out and then skid once he hits the kitchen. He does it on purpose like he’s a race car driver. It cracks me up. The first time I threw a tennis ball for him, he caught it mid-air. He also is wicked fast at the dog park. I would take him to the dog park where he would outrun other dogs, especially to get the balls. One time at the dog park he was beating another dog to get the tennis ball. The guy turned to his dog and said, ‘Dude, you’re getting beat by a 3-legged dog!’”

Because of this, Denise thought Nigel would enjoy agility, a sport where a handler directs their dog through an obstacle course, and is given points for both speed and accuracy. They started attending classes, and “I was amazed at how quickly he took to the equipment and embraced this new challenge.” Denise says. “Nigel may not be the fastest agility dog, but the look of joy on his face makes him a winner in every competition. He had soon mastered jumps and most of the obstacles, including the A-frame, which is very steep. But there was one particular obstacle that worried Denise. The walkway is a narrow path about four feet high, and Denise was concerned about Nigel losing his balance and falling. But Nigel just “put his right leg dead center of his body and literally used it as a tripod. It’s how he balances himself. So, Nigel went up the walkway and just bounced along like he always does. It didn’t faze him a bit.”

Nigel is obsessed with tennis balls, so Denise thought he might enjoy flyball – a dog relay race involving jumps and a tennis ball that is popped from a box. “He is never one of the fastest dogs at flyball tournaments, but his happy wagging tail tells me that there is nothing else he would rather be doing,” Denise says.

But it’s not “all play and no work” for this exuberant dog. Nigel is a trained and certified Pet Partner® with the Delta Society® and he and Denise regularly visit children at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital who have prothesesis or are in wheelchairs. The children are especially appreciative of their 3-legged role model. “It is in the halls and rooms of the hospital that Nigel has taught others and me the most valuable lessons about celebrating life and living each day to the fullest,” Denise says. “Children see the way that Nigel’s physical limitations don’t stop him and they soon realize that they can find joy and accept each day in spite of life’s challenges. On one memorable afternoon at the hospital, as a woman and her sick three year old daughter watched Nigel catch a ball, she remarked, ‘See sweetie, Nigel is special, just like you are’.”

Nigel also helps Denise with her volunteer work at the Humane Society, acting as “big brother” to other pups that she fosters. “He loves puppies and teaches them appropriate manners,” she says. “Nigel is a very confident dog. So, with the puppies, especially the shy ones, they pick up on that. They take cues from him.” And Nigel accompanies Denise to the OHS, where he helps socialize the younger dogs. “It’s amazing to watch Nigel help bring these puppies out of their shells. Since he’s so relaxed and doesn’t mind the puppies jumping all over his head, the puppies start getting relaxed and will start taking treats from me and let me pet them. It’s like Nigel told them not to worry and that everything would be okay.”

Of course Nigel has his quirks as well. “Nigel is a pig and will eat anything. When we’re at flyball practice he is shameless. He goes up to every member on the team and begs for treats. He knows how to “sit pretty” which is him sitting on his back legs balancing with his paw up. Since he’s so cute and only has 3 legs, he gets a lot of treats. “

Nigel can also be pretty stubborn. Sometimes when we go to the dog park and he’s not ready to leave he’ll just sit there. When I call him to me I swear he shakes his head “no” to let me know he’s not done playing yet.” His stubbornness extends to getting people to play with him, too. “He’ll bring a ball to you and put it in your lap. If you don’t throw it, he picks it up and puts it back in your lap. He stares at the ball then stares at you. There is no doubt as to what Nigel wants.”

Perhaps one of Nigel’s biggest eccentricities has to do with his relationship with water. He adores water, especially puddles. But because he has only one front leg, when he jumps in puddles the water invariably splashes. And Nigel just can’t resist trying to bite it! It’s a source of never-ending fascination, and quite amusing to watch him walk along “going splash, bite, splash, bite, splash, bite.”

Nigel also appeared, alongside Denise, on a televised fundraiser for the Oregon Humane Society. It’s easy to see why Denise refers to him as a “can do” dog!

2 Comments »