At first glance, one would say that Mackenzie is just a typical Chihuahua and that nothing is unusual nor extraordinary about her. But there is more to this tiny dog than what meets the eye.
While she may seem healthy from the outside, Mackenzie was born with a cleft palate, a congenital disability where the hard and soft palates fail to close correctly. Puppies with this defect find it challenging to eat or drink properly because some of the food may end up in the airways, leading to frequent aspirations.
And because they are prone to aspirations, cleft palate dogs are also prone to respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. Dogs and other animals with congenital disabilities usually have a low quality of life, so the usual suggestion is to put them to sleep. Thankfully, The Mia Foundation, a nonprofit animal rescue group based in Hilton, New York, strives to give animals born with congenital disabilities a second chance in life.
Mia, a chihuahua with the same condition as Mackenzie, inspired the rescue group. The veterinarians also suggested euthanasia, but she had a second chance at life and lived happily during her lifetime. The same foundation cared for Mackenzie when she was brought in during the New Year of 2013.
The same foundation also gave Mackenzie the chance to live normally. They fed her through a tube for a year before she finally had her surgery to eat and drink independently. It was a tough life for this pup, having experienced frequent respiratory problems due to aspirations. And because she was tiny, it was a miracle that she survived the surgery.
But the adorable four-pound canine didn’t just merely survive; there are more reasons to call this pup special. Mackenzie’s handler, Sue Rogers, discovered her innate nurturing ability for animals when Mackenzie was still on the way to recovery.
Even when unwell, the little dog paid more attention to the other sick rescue animals, regardless of size, breed, or animal type. She took care of small animals like kittens, birds, and bigger ones like turkeys, large dogs, and even a donkey, to name a few! It was clear from the beginning that Mackenzie has a big heart, putting others’ needs before her own.
On top of that, Mackenzie is also an ambassador of animals with congenital disabilities. She visits schools, teaching children about being born different, and that not all disabilities are visible. Most notably, she teaches them to be selfless, open, and understand each other.
The Mia Foundation wanted Mackenzie to go further and reach her full potential, so they entered her in the American Humane Hero Dog Awards. Mackenzie would compete with 400 other dogs, each of them with their own inspiring stories. It was a momentous occasion when she took two awards: “Shelter Dog of the Year” and the most coveted “2020 American Hero Dog Award!
Mackenzie’s story teaches us that it doesn’t matter if you’re a big or small, healthy or sick, human or animal when it comes to making a difference in the world. Mackenzie might have all the reasons to live poorly. Still, her determination and selflessness didn’t stop her from inspiring and changing lives!
Here is the full version of Mackenzie’s story:
Source: American Humane via YouTube