Deformed Puppy Rescued And Recovering (VIDEO)

What began as a tale of animal cruelty may have a heart-warming ending.

A deformed puppy named Harper was found by Erica Daniel, 26, who saw the dog squirming in a garbage bag at a puppy sale.

A man selling puppies outside of a Save-A-Lot store in Florida reluctantly handed her the puppy, which she promptly took to a vet, according to NBC News.

Born with a condition known as "swimmer puppy syndrome," Harper was unable to stand on her front legs or even lift her head. The puppy was scheduled to be euthanized, but Daniel decided to give her one night with a loving home. “I had to show her what it was like to be loved," she told Today.

With some massage, Harper started to show more strength and movement, reports the Daily Mail.

Daniel got a second opinion from another vet, who found that "the rumors of Harper’s demise were greatly exaggerated. Her organs were functioning just fine, and she had no heart murmur or serious brain abnormalities. The medical conditions she did have required treatment -- but nothing that warranted putting her to sleep."

Harper is now 11 weeks old and on the road to recovery. Daniel said the pup is nearly ready for adoption.

Earlier this month, a puppy was rescued after falling into a crack created by the Texas drought. Bob Barker and PETA are currently petitioning the White House to create a spay/neuter law in an effort to fight animal overpopulation and the death of millions of animals.

If you would like to be a hero to a puppy, consider adoption. PetFinder.com and the ASPCA both offer resources for finding a pet in need of a good home.

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Comments

[kagu632418]

07:02 PM on 10/04/2011

Awww this made me cry ... I take in recsue animals and someone like the creep that did this to this animal should have his balls cut off ...

[amaboss52]

02:43 PM on 09/30/2011

Renews your faith in humanity doesn't it?

Good luck Harper, you're a lucky little girl!

[Blodo]

10:09 AM on 09/28/2011

No one except licensed breeders should be able to breed animals. The license fees would then support regular inspection of the facilities and the health of the animals. That, and mandatory, spay-neuter laws would help to ensure there are no unwanted animals and would greatly reduce the need for animal shelters and eutanasia.

[feaupaw123]

11:52 AM on 09/29/2011

I agree 100%. The solution just seems so simple. Maybe there is more to it that I don't know.

[bcmom]

03:05 PM on 10/02/2011

Greed. There are approximately 4000 puppymills in MO and Hunte Corporation is the largest. Google that wonderful "factory." It is never going to stop.

[lambdin1]

04:44 PM on 09/27/2011

I would throw the puppy-seller in the trash. Despecable!

[Kim0330]

01:30 PM on 09/27/2011

Aww, what a great story!!

[sugarcreekchile]

01:20 PM on 09/27/2011

What does PETA and its campaign to eliminate pets by government required spaying or neutering have to do with this heartwarming story? PETA opposes keeping animals as pets. PETA is the most hypocritical organization. They run a "kill" shelter at their headquarters in VA. They're required to file an Animal Record with the state of VA. The 2010 report they filed showed they killed 94% of the abandoned animals they took in and adopted out less than 2%, transferring the rest. Every year, they put to death over 2000 dogs and cats and have a walk-in freezer where the dead bodies are kept until the crematorium picks them up.

PETA is not an adoption advocate. Their bill isn't targeting strays but purebreds. Nearly all animal shelters spay or neuter the animals they adopt out nowadays or require it. PETA would have killed this sweet dog that the kind woman rescued. PETA shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath in any story related to animal rescue. Animal lovers who care about seeing homeless pets adopted should donate to their local animal rescue shelter not hypocritical PETA. It's wonderful that this dog was saved and will find a loving home.

[Ainsaade]

05:57 PM on 09/27/2011

PETA was first in line to say that the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's dog-fighting kennel should be put to sleep and mocked the organizations that stepped forward to take the dogs and rehabilitate them. With a couple of exceptions, all of those dogs are now leading normal lives with families that love them. Your assessment of PETA is right on.

[G-Wizard]

11:33 AM on 09/27/2011

See this sweet dog.. It's a pit bull! They are good dogs and should not be profiled as bad dogs and
outlawed in areas if they have done nothing to deserve it. In our area a woman has 2 pits about 4 years of age. GOOD dogs. They got out and someone reported them and now they are in danger of euthanasia (nice word for execution) just because they are pit bulls!! Where we live it is horrible how many are dumped and abused because of these laws. It's the people that own them that are the problem with problem dogs!!

[JustV]

12:12 PM on 09/27/2011

Well said, thanks !!!!

There's no bigger baby, no more spoiled lap dog, than my Riley
(who, otherwise, was on the short list for death.)

[amantedelibros]

11:06 AM on 09/27/2011

Thank God for people and places like these that don't give up on animals. Same goes to places that don't give up on people.

[notoriusbrut]

12:20 AM on 09/28/2011

amen to that!! i don't have the heart for it, i couldn't stand to watch so many pups be put down, too much of a softy. God bless those organizations and those volunteers

lol- gordon gecko was right: wasps, they love animals - hate ppl

[Igor Purlantov]

10:55 AM on 09/27/2011

What a beautiful story. Wishing Harper a full recovery and many joyful years ahead. Thank you to Erica Daniel and all of the other wonderful people that gave Harper a second chance.

[Clayton Wood]

10:34 AM on 09/27/2011

Rescued our Daisy Lou from a kill shelter and she has turned out to be a blessing and loyal family member. Great story! We are pulling for you Harper.

[CoastalNC]

10:31 AM on 09/27/2011

My last two dogs are rescued dogs....one of them cost me quite a bit in medical bills, even had to have a leg removed due to things that had happened to her before I got her...but she was worth every penny and has turned out to be such a wonderful addition to my life. I wouldn't take anything for any of my 3 dogs...they make life worthwhile.

[Mechelle Gray]

09:15 AM on 09/27/2011

Thank you Erica. Both my dogs were rescued ...

One in the front of my beauty salon (she was so wet, we thought she was a cat-an Akita) and
the other ... my son's friend had a rott/chow mix as a puppy ... one "accident" on the
floor and the Mother was taking it to the pound.

They had a litter of four ... kept one and the others found good homes in the neighborhood.

[BETGR627]

08:44 AM on 09/27/2011

My dog - half black lab - half pitbull was going to be "terminated" but my son rescued him 12 years ago when he was 7 weeks old. We have been so blessed by Tucker!

I applaud anyone who cares to save defenseless animals.

[JustV]

12:15 PM on 09/27/2011

Way to go !!!
My Riley is half pitt/half yellow lab...I pulled her from 'death row' in a shelter.

Best, absolutely smartest, most loyal/emotionally attached dog I have ever known !

[TggerJen]

10:46 AM on 09/28/2011

What lots of people never realize about rescues is that they do just as much to rescue US! All the love and  laughter, the playtimes, the greetings at the door, and too many other perks to list- all for us, all to rescue us from the cares of the world. Don't we feel loved, treasured, and cherished- just as they do!

[BETGR627]

08:41 AM on 09/27/2011

When a see a story like this where a woman takes a dog who would otherwise die - and nurse it back to health - it renews my faith in humanity!

[Draxiar]

10:48 AM on 09/27/2011

Exactly what I was thinking.

*salute*

[IrieMoon]

08:51 AM on 09/27/2011

There's always one...and you're it.

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

09:16 AM on 09/27/2011

funny!

[brownfrown]

09:26 AM on 09/27/2011

Now it all makes sense; every time I've said that Obama is a pain in my butt I was actually being literal..

[She who thinks]

09:07 AM on 09/27/2011

That's not funny :(