A dog named Chi Chi has shown the world just how limitless life can be, so long as you never give up. The gorgeous Golden Retriever had one of the worst starts to her life than anyone can imagine, and things would only get worse before they got better.

Abuse, neglect, malnutrition, and amputations aside, this sweet girl was determined to flourish in life. As you will see, that’s exactly what she did.

Overcoming all the odds and all the trauma of her past, Chi Chi went on to become many things, including a beloved therapy dog and the American Humane 2018’s official American Hero Dog. Above all, though, she was happy.

Her beginnings

The lovable dog was born in South Korea specifically for the purpose of being eaten. Though less common than it used to be, dog meat is still considered a delicacy in the country and Golden Retriever meat is, apparently, the veal of canines.

Sadly, just as with veal, the then 2-year-old puppy was being kept under stomach-turning conditions in order to get the most “tender” meat. So, how do you get that meat so tender? By restricting muscle movement.

The precious dog was horrifically bound by her paws and left to hang in place upside down. In the meantime, her captors stuffed her little body with as much food as they possibly could. They were fattening her up for maximum yield.

“She was hung from her legs for so long that her bindings started eating through her flesh. At some point, it was literally bone she was hanging upside down from,” explained Animal Rescue, Media & Education (ARME) foster and adoptions coordinator, Monique Hanson, in an interview with The Dodo.

The South Korean animal welfare organization, Nabiya Irion Hope Project, reached out to ARME about Chi Chi. The groups had worked together in previous rescue ventures for ARME’s sister organization, the Beagle Freedom Project.

Little did they know that the sweet dog had been deemed “unfit for consumption” due to the severity of her injuries.

The dog meat factory had tied her up in a trash bag and tossed her in the garbage. Thankfully, however, the strong little fighter was still alive!

“It was literally just by chance [members of Nabiya Irion Hope Project] found her in a trashcan. She was found in a very well-known slaughter region in South Korea for dogs and cats. It was really by luck they saw her in there and that she was still alive,” Hanson recalls.

Chi Chi refused to let her spirit be snuffed out.

Seeing the dog’s sheer will to keep on living only made her rescuers want to fight that much harder for her. So, they took the small pup to an animal hospital where all four of her paws were amputated, just below her stifles.

After Chi Chi went through extensive recovery, the rescue posted a video of the brave little dog on Facebook, explaining about her traumatic background and the obstacles she managed to overcome.

Her mom, Elizabeth Howell, fell in love with the dog from the moment she saw her rescue video on social media and her relentless will to survive.

“She stole my heart,” Chi Chi’s human remembered in an interview with TODAY.

Once in her new home state of Arizona, Chi Chi was fitted with four custom prosthetics and she was up and running as fast as the rest of them.

“When people meet Chi Chi, they are inspired by her courage, perseverance, ability to overcome adversity and her never-give-up attitude. She exemplifies resilience and forgiveness, and openly shares her love and compassion in abundance. Her sweet-tempered and gentle spirit opens people’s hearts and her perceptive spirit senses where her love is needed,” Howell said of her beloved dog.

Chi Chi went on to become a renowned therapy dog and even won the prestigious American Hero Dog award in 2018. She spent nearly 3 wonderful years with her family before she tragically passed away from a malignant tumor in her nasal cavity.

Chi Chi was a very special type of dog. The type that heroes are truly made of.

Though her family will miss her dearly, they choose to remember how her life inspired them and everyone who knew her.

“She was determined to do it all and she did not give up. If she wanted to do something she found a way to do it,” Howell said.

To learn more about Chi Chi and her overwhelmingly inspiring story, watch the video below.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: The Dodo YouTube/The Dodo/Champion Newspaper