"¡Es un milagro!"

That's what my friend 'Chita said yesterday when she saw me walking. She remembers me in pain and unable to get up. That was the day she helped transport me to surgery.

¡Soy un perro de milagro! I AM a miracle dog. Perro de milagro. From this time forth I will use the moniker "el milagro" to express gratitude.

If my back surgery hadn't been such a success, I would be wheeling around using a dog cart now. Have you seen how cool dog carts are?

Dog-ma and I learned about dog carts at CorgiAid Cart Program. And we're learning more at Corgis on Wheels, a group on Yahoo.

Ozzy corgi wasn't quite 9 months old when he broke his leg. Playing ball on the stairs, his Wichita, Kansas, guardian/owners told the vet.

Adorable Pembroke Welsh corgi Ozzy came close to not being in Kansas anymore.

In the words of his rescuer, who got help from CorgiAid: "Ozzy [had been] brought in to a vet clinic with a badly broken front leg. His owners were unable to afford the surgery necessary to help him so opted to euthanize. Thanks to two caring vet techs who were able to convince the owners to sign over custody, Ozzy's life was spared. They contacted me and I agreed to help out. He has now had his surgery which was successful. We are on the long road to recovery of 3 to 6 weeks of cage rest. . . ."

Fast forward several weeks: X-rays showed that the surgical pins are doing their job and the leg is mending. Ozzy gets to have short, calm walks on leash several times a day. Poor Ozzy has probably been going bonkers being crated. His rescuer says, "He has gotten really good at unstuffing Kongs and treat toys. He has also started hydro-therapy and is quite a good swimmer and it wears him out. He feels great and would like to run and play but is still not allowed. He will go in for another set of x-rays in three more weeks and if he continues to progress as he has then he can resume normal activity at that time.

"I am looking forward to hearing that he is allowed to play like a puppy again. . . . Ozzy has a sweet temperament. He is just a goofy pup. . . . I suspect he is a dog that loves to fetch as he drops a ball and assumes to 'ready to fetch' position, but we are not allowed yet."

Thanks to his kind rescuer, Ozzy corgi will be available for adoption once his orthopedic vet releases him from care. He'll be available through ForPaws rescue.

Pawnotes: A rather long time ago, I too was a rescue corgi. And like Ozzy, I recently needed emergency surgery. . . . I wonder how many dogs and cats go through similar experiences.

Visit these websites:

* CorgiAid ~ www.CorgiAid.org ~ a small volunteer-run operation that depends on donations to help fund rescuers like Ozzy's who provide wonderful care to dogs in need.

* ForPaws Corgi and Corgi Mix Rescue ~ http://www.forpaws.org/ ~ a small, ethical rescue organization run by knowledgeable volunteers.