Dixie was found as a severely matted stray and taken to Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. She had a very pronounced limp and was unable to put any weight on her back left leg. Shelter workers knew Dixie to be extremely sweet, despite being incredibly scared.

Medical cases are often the first dogs to be euthanized due to space limitations in overcrowded and under resourced county shelters. Thankfully, Wags and Walks stepped in to ensure that Dixie would be safe and cared for.

It was clear that Dixie was grateful to be rescued. Once she made it out of the shelter and to the the adoption center, she was able to run (on three legs) with all sorts of enthusiasm.

Since one of Dixie’s legs was non weight bearing, the shelter assumed that she was suffering from luxating patella, which is fairly common in small breed dogs. This condition causes the kneecap to pop out from where it normally should be. In severe cases, this abnormality can cause excessive discomfort, pain and lameness.

An orthopedic specialist confirmed that Dixie has a lateral luxating patella, which requires immediate surgery.

Dixie is a remarkably kind and spirited dog who we cannot wait to see blossom after her recovery.