Post by 2Poppa on Apr 10, 2007 10:16:50 GMT -5
Dog famous for living on two legs dies
Associated Press
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. - A dog from central Kentucky that attracted national media attention as a double-amputee has been euthanized after living on two legs for most of his life.
The dog known as "Roadie" was put down late last month at the age of 14, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Thursday.
"It's different around here," said his owner, Dr. Mike Griffitt of Bluegrass Veterinary Clinic. "He had been a part of our lives here for 14 years. At one time, Roadie was probably the most famous dog in the world. He touched a lot of lives."
The hound was euthanized after he could no longer get up to relieve himself, Griffitt said.
The canine gained national attention in 1992 when, at nine months old, his legs were mangled by freight train in Nicholasville. His owner was a client of Griffitt's who decided to give him away because he couldn't hunt.
Griffitt amputated the gangrenous front left leg and rear right leg, and soon the dog he renamed "Railroad" began to eat. Then the hound took his first steps on his two remaining legs.
"He would just kind of balance himself with his tail and have a little lope to him," Griffitt said. "Honestly, in his younger days, he could run as fast as a four-legged dog. He was just an athlete."
The dog's recovery was told in Reader's Digest and Dog World magazine, and he was featured on a CNN broadcast and was the subject of a Paul Harvey "The Rest of the Story" radio segment, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Roadie also appeared at fundraisers for animal-welfare organizations and for groups of people with disabilities.
"We went to a lot of schools and nursing homes," Griffitt said. "He knew he was special. The kids were just in awe of him."
But in the last week of November, Roadie went downhill. "He just didn't have very much life in him the last couple of days," said Pamela Boggs, a veterinary technician. "I think he was telling us it was time."
In his farewell, Griffitt told Roadie: "Go run on four legs, old friend."
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader, www.kentucky.com
Associated Press
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. - A dog from central Kentucky that attracted national media attention as a double-amputee has been euthanized after living on two legs for most of his life.
The dog known as "Roadie" was put down late last month at the age of 14, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Thursday.
"It's different around here," said his owner, Dr. Mike Griffitt of Bluegrass Veterinary Clinic. "He had been a part of our lives here for 14 years. At one time, Roadie was probably the most famous dog in the world. He touched a lot of lives."
The hound was euthanized after he could no longer get up to relieve himself, Griffitt said.
The canine gained national attention in 1992 when, at nine months old, his legs were mangled by freight train in Nicholasville. His owner was a client of Griffitt's who decided to give him away because he couldn't hunt.
Griffitt amputated the gangrenous front left leg and rear right leg, and soon the dog he renamed "Railroad" began to eat. Then the hound took his first steps on his two remaining legs.
"He would just kind of balance himself with his tail and have a little lope to him," Griffitt said. "Honestly, in his younger days, he could run as fast as a four-legged dog. He was just an athlete."
The dog's recovery was told in Reader's Digest and Dog World magazine, and he was featured on a CNN broadcast and was the subject of a Paul Harvey "The Rest of the Story" radio segment, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Roadie also appeared at fundraisers for animal-welfare organizations and for groups of people with disabilities.
"We went to a lot of schools and nursing homes," Griffitt said. "He knew he was special. The kids were just in awe of him."
But in the last week of November, Roadie went downhill. "He just didn't have very much life in him the last couple of days," said Pamela Boggs, a veterinary technician. "I think he was telling us it was time."
In his farewell, Griffitt told Roadie: "Go run on four legs, old friend."
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader, www.kentucky.com
