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.