China 3-legged puppy, destined to be put down, becomes effective SWAT police dog
Crime-fighting canine forms special emotional bond with his ‘comrade’ handler who also has leg problems; pair share sense of ‘hardship’
An “awesome” puppy born with only three legs, which was once recommended for euthanasia, has grown up to be a police dog in a specialist crime-fighting unit in China.
Barton the Belgian Malinois has formed a deep emotional bond with his trainer, who also has problems with one of his legs and uses a wheelchair.
Born in June 2019 at the dog kennel of the Special Force Unit under the Xichuan County Public Security Bureau in Nanyang, Henan province in northern China, Barton is a descendant of an outstanding police dog.
However, he was born with a congenital defect in his left foreleg, which limited his mobility. Veterinarians once recommended he be put down.
Barton was then given to a local family, but because of the breed’s strong instincts and temperament, he became mischievous and aggressive and was soon returned.
Back at the police unit, he often watched the other dogs train and appeared eager to join them.
Seeing this, Li Xiaodong, a 46-year-old trainer who has served as a police dog handler in the police unit for 24 years, decided to give Barton a chance and began training him.
