(Featured Photo Courtesy of Faith's FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/FaithTheDog Photo Credit: AnthonyTotoriello atortphotography.com)
When Faith was born in 2002, she only had three legs. Of those, only two were fully developed, and both were on her hind end. The front leg began to atrophy as a puppy, so veterinarians had to amputate it when she was just seven months old.
“Can we fix her?” asked Reuben Stringfellow, who discovered the puppy and rescued her. His mom, Jude, replied that it wasn’t possible to do that, but they could maybe help her.
The challenges that Faith encountered led to a recommendation that she be humanely euthanized to prevent suffering. Instead of choosing that direction, her family used peanut butter to teach the puppy how to walk.
Jude did more than allow this puppy to experience life. There was a home filled with love.
How Faith Learned to Walk on Two Legs
What made Faith truly remarkable was her ability to walk upright on her hind legs.
Initially, her family helped her maintain balance by feeding her with a spoon while she stood on her hind legs, effectively encouraging her to stand and walk bipedally. They used a roller board to let her get used to how movement felt, which eventually led to pushing and hopping to get the treat she wanted.
Gradually, Faith began to develop the muscle strength and balance needed to walk upright. It was a slow process, requiring patience and constant encouragement. Over time, Faith learned to walk on her own, a feat that gained her significant attention and admiration from everyone.
Although this story often focuses on how it is possible to overcome physical challenges, it also contains themes of adaptability and resilience. The bond between humans and animals can be a symbol of determination and home.
When people or animals have enough support to embrace perseverance, it is possible to pursue any dream. Faith's ability to walk like a human brought her a lot of attention. She appeared on various TV shows and began visiting military personnel.
(Faith above finding her true calling in life, at the side of and to inspire her fellow troops. Photos Courtesy of her FB Page)
Faith Was Given a Non-Commission Military Rank
Faith quickly found her calling in life. She would visit more than 2,300 wounded soldiers worldwide while being seen by over two million active troops. It was one of her favorite things to do. She wore an ACU jacket during these visits, which would cause her to become very excited when it came out of the closet.
Her work led to Fort Lewis giving Faith an honorary E5 non-commission rank for her work in June 2006. She became “Sergeant Faith.”
“She walks around barking and laughing, excited to see them all,” said Jude. “There can be a lot of crying, pointing, and surprise. There can also be silence. There is a lot of quiet, heartfelt, really deep emotion.”
The soldiers who met Faith were often inspired by her ability to adapt. Her outcomes served as a reminder to those overcoming challenges of their own that a brighter future was still possible. Although not officially classified as a therapy dog, she naturally assumed this role during her visits.
She would have a long and exciting life. At one point, she was even invited to go on tour with Ozzy Osbourne.
Of all the experiences, Jude says the one that stands out the most was meeting a woman from New York who they ran into randomly on a street corner. The stranger had lost both her legs due to diabetes and battling severe depression.
“She was in her wheelchair and saw us,” Jude recalls. “She was crying. She’d seen Faith on TV, came over, and just held her. She said she wished she had that kind of courage.”
Faith Earned a Three-Year Retirement
Even when all the public events became too much for Faith in her older years, her retirement was more than finding a comfortable spot at home with some pets. Jude often took her to local airports so that she could greet her troops as they returned.
Her family gave Faith natural food her entire life and supported her leg health with joint supplements. Eventually, the ability to keep walking required her to endure significant pain. For a while, they could manage the issue with medication.
Their veterinarian discovered cancerous tumors between her shoulder blades. She was almost 12 years old, which is pretty good for a puppy who wasn’t supposed to make it more than a month.
Faith’s legacy still lives strong. You can find out more about her story and the people she helped along the way on her Facebook page. “If that little dog can [walk on two legs], what can you do?” Oprah asked.
