When Arthur arrived at John and Stephanie Lewis’s home, Marjorie was waiting on three legs. The dogs had spent months apart, yet the couple believed the littermates recognized each other. Soon, they were playing together again an outcome that had seemed nearly impossible just a week earlier.
Marjorie and Arthur’s story began beside a road, where they were abandoned with their mother as puppies. The Humane Society of Pulaski County took them in, and the two puppies were initially adopted together.
That placement did not last. According to the Lewises, Marjorie was hit by a car and suffered fractures in both back legs. Several surgeries followed. Her back right leg was amputated, while plates and a screw were used to hold her back left leg together.
After a neighbor reported the family, Marjorie was removed from the home. Arthur could not be recovered before the family moved away, leaving the littermates separated.
Stephanie later met Marjorie at a parade where Heath Nicholson of the Humane Society of Pulaski County had brought the three-legged dog. The Lewises adopted her, giving Marjorie a new home while Arthur’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Several months passed before Arthur was found abandoned near Austin, Texas. The Lewises said a shelter contacted the Humane Society of Pulaski County with an urgent warning: Arthur was due to be put down within a week.
Nicholson and other shelter workers traveled to retrieve him. When Nicholson contacted the Lewises and showed them Arthur’s photograph, Stephanie’s answer was immediate. Yeah, we’re taking him home. We have to. They’re meant to be together, she said.
Arthur’s arrival restored a bond that had been broken by distance and circumstance. The Lewises said the dogs appeared to remember one another, and they now share the same permanent home. Marjorie’s missing leg does not keep her from playing actively, Stephanie said, and the couple describes the littermates as devoted to each other.
A reunion amid crowded kennels
For the Humane Society of Pulaski County, bringing Arthur home was also a reminder of how little room remains for the next dog in need. Nicholson said the organization’s waiting list stretches back a year and described adoptions as its most urgent need.
Until we make space by adopting some out, we can’t take any more in and help them, Nicholson said.
Prospective adopters can start by considering whether they have the time, money and energy for a long-term commitment. The shelter’s official adoption information says applicants must be at least 21 and complete a thorough application. Approval is not automatic; the shelter evaluates whether an animal and applicant are a suitable match before arranging an appointment.
The listed adoption fee is $125 for dogs under 20 pounds and $100 for other dogs and cats unless otherwise noted. That fee includes immunizations, microchipping, deworming, sterilization and other care needed to prepare an animal for adoption. Post-adoption behavior support is also available.
Marjorie’s active life may encourage people who are considering a three-legged dog, but each animal’s needs are individual. Guidance from Best Friends Animal Society notes that slippery floors, stairs and uneven ground can be harder for three-legged dogs to navigate. Rugs can improve traction, while a properly fitted harness may provide additional balance and support. Owners should consult their veterinarian about appropriate exercise and any health concerns, particularly when a dog also has orthopedic hardware.
Adoption is not the only way to help create better outcomes. Nicholson also identified volunteering, needed-item donations and monetary gifts as useful forms of support. The shelter’s annual November Reigning Cats and Dogs fundraiser benefits its emergency medical fund, helping cover substantial veterinary care for animals whose needs extend beyond routine preparation for adoption.
Arthur and Marjorie now have room to play beside each other again. Back at the shelter, however, another kennel must open before another waiting animal can come through the door.
Have you ever adopted a dog with a story like this? Share it in the comments.
By Jake Patterson — Freelance feature writer and former animal-shelter volunteer focused on rescue, adoption, and second-chance dog stories.
