We can all agree that there are few things cuter than a bouncing, romping, playful puppy. Hold on to your heartstrings, though, because you’re about to meet Roo, the cutest little thing that ever went viral.
Roo is a black lab mix full of energy and curiosity, like all puppies. She has deep, knowing eyes, a shiny soft coat, and a couple of extra legs that make her all the more special. Born with two extra front legs, Roo was birthed by a breeder in Essex, England eight weeks ago. Rather than discarding her, as many breeders would, this one took a chance and placed an ad for her online.
Lauren Salmon, 33, lives in Kent and is a compassionate animal lover. Her human family shares their home with a Jack Russell, two cats and two supersize French Lop rabbits. When her son Luke saw a picture of Roo online, he fell hard, instantly. His mom agreed to buy the puppy and they brought her home two weeks ago. They named her Roo because she resembles a kangaroo when she bounds towards her people.
“We absolutely love Roo to pieces. She’s is just a normal dog to us – just with a couple of extra bits,” the proud mom said. “Her special legs don’t cause her any pain, and it’s easy to see just how full of life she is.”
Luke has psoriasis, a skin condition that makes his skin sometimes look red and flaky. Teenagers can be unsympathetic, to say the least, and Luke has been bullied by his peers because of his skin’s appearance. Lauren believes that Luke was attracted to Roo because she is also different. The pair have bonded very tightly and are rarely apart.
“It was love at first sight for Luke and for Roo from then on,” Lauren recalled. “Luke is like a protective father. They never leave each other’s sides and she even sleeps in his bed.”
Lauren has been in touch with a well know vet, Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick. He is a specialist who stars in a local new’s channel’s regular segment, ‘The Supervet.’ She wanted to see if he could improve her mobility. She reported an update on Roo’s Facebook page stating,
Unfortunately at this point in time Roo isn’t a candidate for surgery. We have been advised by my vets that the best option is to find a company who custom makes doggy wheels for her front. When she is 1yrs she can be referred back to the specialist who will look at her file again.
We will keep an eye out for any updates on Roo and her new wheels. In the meantime, we’ll just keep watching her bound around enjoying her new family.
