In June 2015, when Dexter’s family acquired him, they were overjoyed to welcome such a joyful, positive dog into their home and immediately realized they couldn’t picture life without him. They nearly lost him, though, nine months later.
“A strange accident, an owner’s worst fear,” Dexter’s mother Kentee Pasek told The Dodo. Dexter ran away from the yard, and we immediately started looking for him, but he is quick. Tim, my husband, discovered him running next to the road. Crossing the street in front of a moving vehicle was Dexter. Tim called to say that Dexter had “sort of damaged his front legs.” It was more worse than I could have ever thought when I got on the scene.
We live in the middle of the mountains and had to drive almost an hour for emergency veterinarian care. We were not sure he would make the trip, but he did, and his outstanding vet, Dr. Franklin, at the San Juan Vet Clinic saved Dexter’s life. Dr. Franklin credits Dexter’s determination to live.”
While Dexter managed to survive his ordeal, his recovery process was long. He lost one of his front legs and the other one was pinned at the elbow. He had to wear a cone for almost a full year and, of course, had to relearn how to walk and get around. It was a lot to handle, but somehow, through it all, Dexter remained the dog his family had always known.
“He was super happy just being alive,” Pasek said. “He was smiling, happy and positive. There were many days his attitude was infectious for the rest of us. He was happy just to be. One day I placed him outside in his kennel in the sun, and he was so happy to be outside, even as injured as he was. He just loved to be with us.”
Dexter learned to walk using what his mother refers to as his “tripod peg leg hop walk” as he recovered. Dexter, a dog that enjoys speed and exploration, immediately understood he would require more.
He then trained himself to walk erect on his two rear legs, just like a human, and when his mother first witnessed him doing it, she was amazed.
One morning I had Dexter in the front yard for his morning routine, and he was so happy, I went back in to get my coffee,” Pasek said. “When I came back outside, he was up on the front porch. I was shocked, a bit upset because he … had just had another surgery. I knew he was not putting any weight on his front leg, so I had no clue how he climbed those stairs.
I carried him off the stairs and back to the yard and took out my phone to record his actions because I needed proof for myself and for everyone else in our household. He turned around and did it again. I caught him walking upright up the front stairs … I was shocked and scared he would hurt himself again. I remember feeling both amazement and apprehension over this determined dog.”
The remainder is history. Dexter rapidly mastered the technique of upright walking, much like the rest of his family does, and he now mostly uses this method to go around. How quickly he can move is quite remarkable. Naturally, it is unusual to see a dog walk like a person, thus Dexter rapidly gained some local notoriety. Everyone knows and adores him, but Dexter hasn’t changed at all as a result of his fame. He continues to be the same joyful, tenacious, down-to-earth dog he always was, and his family genuinely couldn’t be prouder of him.
If Dexter wants something, he will acquire it or do whatever he wants, according to Pasek. We reduce his speed.
While it’s absolutely adorable and incredible the way Dexter walks, his journey to get to where he is now wasn’t easy. Through it all, Dexter never gave up, and he’s a beautiful example of just how resilient dogs can be.
“Dexter’s story is about adapting, changing and embracing a new normal,” Pasek said. “If we can remember how Dexter changed his life, I think we can too … This has shown me that even in our darkest, hardest times, we can overcome.”
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