Like humans, some dogs are born with developmental abnormalities. They can range from deformed tails to serious systemic issues. Physical birth defects like missing limbs can also happen when there’s exposure to chemicals or trauma.

Lt. Dan, a white German Shepherd puppy, was born with a missing front paw.

His condition isn’t unusual. In fact, around 6% of puppies are born with developmental problems.

Believing his condition could cause huge problems for him in the future, breeders thought euthanizing him was the best solution.

Without a front paw, the dog can have a hard time socializing with other animals. He may even have a hard time finding a family that’ll love him forever.

Fortunately, Karen Riddle, Lt. Dan’s owner, refused to give up on him.

She thought that the dog could be an awesome therapy dog. So, she went looking for someone who’d be a perfect fit for him.

Karen heard about Sapphyre Johnson.

Thinking that the perfect person to take care of Lt. Dan was someone who has a similar disability, she reached out to Shriners Hospital. There, she met the precious little girl.

The 3-year-old toddler had both of her feet amputated.

She was born with missing fingers and toes. The amputation was necessary to make her lower extremities fit the prosthetics made for her.

When the pair met, there was an instant connection.

In an interview with ABC News, Ashley Johnson, Sapphyre’s mom, shared:

“Sapphyre immediately noticed he was missing a paw. She said, ‘He has a foot like mine.”

They were meant to be together.

The pair connected in an instant. Even during their first 24 hours of being together, they acted like they’ve been best friends for years already.

Lt. Dan will be a huge help to Sapphyre.

Growing up, she’ll likely hear tons of negative comments. Those things can be detrimental to a little girl’s self-confidence.

However, with Lt. Dan around, her parents feel more confident that she’ll be able to overcome them. They think the dog will be a tremendous help in making their little girl more confident about herself.

They shared:

“We always want Sapphyre to know that being different is not bad. People, even pets, no one is exactly the same. That would be boring, I think it’s good for her to see that.”

Taking care of a disabled dog isn’t easy.

He’ll have special needs and extra levels of attention. He’ll require you to be there for him all the time.

The good news is that caring for disabled pets doesn’t really have to be a burden. In fact, you can consider it a source of joy.

Disabled dogs, just like any other pet, have lots of love to give. They can make you feel better when you’re having a rough day. Plus, they’ll never leave your side. Considering that, Lt. Dan and Sapphyre are likely to be best friends for life.

Watch the pair’s touching moment together in the video below!

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Source: YouTube-USA Today, Bark Post