Sapphyre Johnson was born a healthy child in Greenville, South Carolina, except for missing some essential features, her feet, fingers and toes. Since she was 3-months-old, Sapphyre, now 3, has been a patient at Shriner's Hospital for Children, where her mother, Ashley Johnson, said she's had multiple surgeries to be fitted for prosthetic feet. But for her last visit, Johnson told ABC News, Sapphyre got to leave the hospital with much more than new prosthetics. "It was two weeks ago when were told that an owner had contacted the hospital about a puppy who was missing one front paw," said Johnson. "She wanted him to grow up with a child who had similar circumstances." After showing Sapphyre a photo of the puppy, Johnson said her toddler fell in love. "Sapphyre immediately noticed that he was missing a paw," she said. "She said, 'He has a foot like mine.'" The dog's breeder, Karen Riddle, said that the 9-week-old White German Shepherd was born in a litter of nine puppies and was the only one missing a paw. For that very reason, Riddle said she decided to name him Lt. Dan, after the character from the popular film "Forrest Gump" who lost both his legs. "The movie is a heartwarming, loving story, so I said, 'You're just like Lt. Dan. It just suited his personality." Because of Lt. Dan's calm demeanor, Riddle coordinated with Shriner's to hand him off to Sapphyre as a therapy dog. Sapphyre and Lt. Dan went home together Monday. "It was awesome yesterday," Riddle said. "We said, 'Sapphyre show him your feet' and, oh boy, she threw off her prosthetics and her socks and said, 'Look!' Then Lt. Dan put his paw up at the exact same time." Although they've only been pals for 24 hours, Johnson said Sapphyre and Lt. Dan make the perfect pair. "He follows her every step she takes, everywhere she goes," said Johnson. "It's like they’ve known each other forever. "We always want Sapphyre to know that being different is not bad," she added. "People, even pets, no one is exactly the same. That would be boring. I think it’s good for her to see that."
Norwood, New Jersey - Police say Monday night they may have been closing in on a coyote that bit a man in Bergen County, New Jersey over the weekend. Norwood police said they captured a coyote Monday night, they were not sure whether it was the same animal that attacked Stephen Sinisi after 9 p.m. Sunday. Police said they believe the coyote captured Monday night was actually part of a different pack, but was described as “very aggressive.” Norwood police said they also put traps near two coyote dens they discovered Monday night near a school. Sinisi said he was walking his dog, Raleigh, near the woods on McClellan Street and D’Ercole Court when he saw what he thought was a stray dog approaching. “I was walking back and what looked like a dog approaching me,” Sinisi told CBS2’s Meg Baker. “Then we got closer I was like, ‘No, this is not a stray dog,’” he told 1010 WINS’ Rebecca Granet. Sinisi was attacked as he tried to get his dog back into the house. “He saw a coyote stalking him, and he decided to return home,” police Chief Jeff Krapels said, WCBS 880’s Sean Adams reported. “As he was running home, the coyote caught up to him as he got to his front door and bit him on the leg.”
Castaways is a documentary series chronicling the successful rehabilitation program of inmates that train unwanted dogs for re-introduction or adoption. The series highlights the plight that both prisoners and unwanted dogs face, and how an unlikely union between the two brings out a change in character of both man and beast — each trying to save and serve the other. The results are life-changing for the prisoner, the dog, and the future pet owner. In the video below, you’ll meet a dog named Esther who was severely abused in a puppy mill before being rehabilitated through the Prison-trained K-9 Companion Program. It’s simply incredible to watch as Jason, a prison inmate, forms his bond with Esther, and eventually must say an emotional goodbye after successfully training her and helping her emerge from her shell. We’ve seen the impact made when these two groups of societal outcasts meet. It’s truly heartwarming — because, while many people shun both inmates and “undesirable” breeds like pit bulls and rottweilers, this program gives them an opportunity to look to each other for affection, friendship, and understanding and to foster each other’s growth. This type of program should be employed in more prisons across the country.
