St. Patrick's Day Dog Names

Cassidy, which means clever and curly-haired in Irish, may look like just another Shetland Sheepdog, but he is much, much more. First of all, when he starts walking, you will notice that he only has three legs. But he doesn’t mind; he still gets around quite well that way. Although he does get tired faster than the other dogs, Cassidy is still able to keep up with the pack. And he is very friendly, which will surprise you once you know his whole story. 

In 2010, a good Samaritan stopped on the side of the highway to pick up some trash, and when she picked up the garbage, underneath it, she found a skinny and scared little black, white, and brown ball of fur who was injured, probably from being hit by a passing car. The good Samaritan took Cassidy to an emergency veterinarian hospital where he underwent surgery. Unfortunately, they could not save his leg. But they saved Cassidy. 

After several months of care and physical therapy at the local Sheltie Rescue of Utah to get this starved and neglected pup back to good health, he was put up for adoption. Kathy Cain found him and decided to bring him home with her. Even though you would expect this badly abused pooch to be afraid of people, Cassidy is a lovable and friendly pooch who seems to like everyone he sees. He always has a tail wag and face lick for you no matter who you are. 

Cassidy certainly does not let his “handicap” slow him down or make him sad, and it is because of this that Cain decided to go and use his great example to cheer up other amputees. He and Cain became advocates for special need rescue animals as well as humans with special needs such as veterans who have had an amputation or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  

In addition, Cassidy and Cain go to schools and hospitals all over the United States to tell his story and show everyone that there is hope even after being an amputee. Because many people with disabilities suffer from depression, Cassidy is also beneficial for boosting the moods of those who are feeling down or depressed. 

In 2013, Cassidy and Cain were recognized for their efforts, and Cassidy was awarded for being a hero by the American Humane Society Hero Dog Awards as an Emerging Hero Dog. They have also been on talk shows, radio shows, and Cain has recently gotten Cassidy registered as a therapy dog, so they can officially help others in need.