An Ambassador for Many & Therapy Dog Extraordinaire: Meet Petey
As a 4-month-old puppy, Petey was running loose and struck by a car, left for dead. A passer-by rescued him, and Petey was lucky to be adopted by a dog trainer who recognized the pit bull had the makings of a great therapy dog.
Like thousands of therapy dogs, Petey makes a huge difference in the lives of many. He visits numerous hospitals and rehabilitation centers, bringing comfort and love to patients.
But Petey is unique in his role in a couple of notable ways. As a pit bull, he represents bully breeds and proves that they are often misunderstood and can be wonderful companions.
“Petey is a wonderful ambassador for bully breed dogs as he radiates love,” said his owner Dena Newlun of Yukon, OK. “His calm and sweet demeanor immediately puts everyone at ease, even those people who are scared of these breeds due to misinformation.”
But Petey represents another group of dogs – those that are disabled. A car struck the now 5-year-old dog when he was a young puppy, leaving him for dead. A kind-hearted person spotted the puppy along the road and rescued him. He had suffered numerous injuries and underwent an amputation of his left rear leg.
Dog trainer and veterinary technician Newlun has been involved in animal rescue in the Oklahoma City area for years and saw a social media post about Petey. She even contributed to a fund to help pay for his veterinary care.
“People kept tagging me about this young pit bull puppy. I decided to go temperament test him as he would have been euthanized or died in a shelter setting,” Newlun said. “I had zero intentions of adopting him before I met him. But upon meeting him, it took five minutes before I saw his potential and fell in love with him. I came home with him that very day.”
While Petey’s spirit had not been damaged by his rough start in life, the accident had taken its toll. After adopting him, Newlun learned that there were other injuries that had not been discovered.
“Petey’s tail was broken in multiple places,” she said. “He had pelvic/hip trauma on both hips, broken ribs, and, having been actually run over, he now suffers from spinal issues, arthritis, and is in need of a hip replacement.”
In addition to veterinary care, Petey did hydrotherapy and muscle training once he could handle it. “Through all the hard days, this boy never once showed any signs of fear, aggression, or withdrawal. He was and is always happy and smiling and so very happy to be with people,” she said.
That outgoing personality made Petey an excellent candidate for therapy dog work. As an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator and mentor for two therapy dog groups, Newlun knew she had a winner. Petey passed the CGC test before he was a year old and entered training for therapy dog certification.
Practice included exposure to medical equipment and going out in public daily, meeting people of all ages and abilities. Petey passed the Alliance of Therapy Dogs test on his first try.
“He was quite frankly made for this work. He has the best temperament and disposition I have ever seen, and I say that not because he is my dog, but because I have had 30-plus years of experience working with dogs,” Newlun said. “A lot of dogs can get certified to do the work, but I will match his desire to do this job to any other dog.”
Petey works in multiple hospitals including Integris Baptist Hospital, Canadian Valley Integris, Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital and OU Stephenson Cancer Center.
“He loves everyone but is especially fond of children,” Newlun said. “He is a great ambassador for dogs with special needs. As far as we know, Petey (TripodPetey on social media) is the only active three-legged pit bull therapy dog in the nation.”
Petey’s work earned him a nomination in the 2021 AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). He has also won the AKC Therapy Dog title of THDX for making more than 200 visits.
For all his hard work, Petey enjoys some down time.
“Petey is a couch potato extraordinaire. He does, however, have a fun time playing with his Am Staff sister, Desi, and my daughter’s Miniature Schnauzer, Jack. He loves his horse-sized Jolly Ball, Nylabones, and destroying any and all stuffed toys that might inadvertently cross his path,” Newlun said. “He loves his cats and his box turtle sibling. He is very protective of the turtle around the other two dogs who can be rowdy. He is always the peacemaker. But his favorite thing in the world is snuggling with me or any other human that comes over to visit.”