This golden retriever is a quadruple amputee â and now a therapy dog
Chi Chi The
Two months after it found her  the Nabiya Irion Hope Project  an animal welfare group in South Korea  sent  Chi Chi  to the Animal Rescue Media and Education (ARME) group in Los Angeles  where both organizations believed she stood a better chance of adoption. Howell said she saw one video of the dog and âcouldnât get her off my mind.â
The Howells  who have owned eight dogs in nearly 24 years of marriage  decided they wanted to make  Chi Chi  their next. ARME drove her from Los Angeles to Phoenix in March 2016. Six months later  she was fitted with custom prosthetics that allow her to walk and run.
After a short but traumatic lifetime of abuse  Howell said   Chi Chi  was reticent to interact at first. But that changed in a matter of months. Now  Howell said  the dog is free to trust humans âwithout any fear or risk to her well-being. Thatâs been amazing to watch her grow and watch her transform into this dog that now canât wait to visit people and meet new people.â
So far   Chi  Chiâs biggest fan base is virtual â more than 45 000 followers on her Facebook and Instagram accounts. Howell said her hope  though  is that Chi  Chi âs greatest impact will be at schools and that she will teach young children to be kind.
Two months after it found her  the Nabiya Irion Hope Project  an animal welfare group in South Korea  sent  Chi Chi  to the Animal Rescue Media and Education (ARME) group in Los Angeles  where both organizations believed she stood a better chance of adoption. Howell said she saw one video of the dog and âcouldnât get her off my mind.â
The Howells  who have owned eight dogs in nearly 24 years of marriage  decided they wanted to make  Chi Chi  their next. ARME drove her from Los Angeles to Phoenix in March 2016. Six months later  she was fitted with custom prosthetics that allow her to walk and run.
After a short but traumatic lifetime of abuse  Howell said   Chi Chi  was reticent to interact at first. But that changed in a matter of months. Now  Howell said  the dog is free to trust humans âwithout any fear or risk to her well-being. Thatâs been amazing to watch her grow and watch her transform into this dog that now canât wait to visit people and meet new people.â
So far   Chi  Chiâs biggest fan base is virtual â more than 45 000 followers on her Facebook and Instagram accounts. Howell said her hope  though  is that Chi  Chi âs greatest impact will be at schools and that she will teach young children to be kind.