Amy & Lucy Lyons

Lucy is a one year-old Boxer/Shepherd mix who is just like any other household pet. She is loyal, loving and completely dependent on her owners, Amy and Trevor Lyons. There is only one thing that makes Lucy stand out from other dogs- she only has three legs.

Amy and Trevor adopted Lucy in December 2009 as a Christmas present to each other. She was brought into the Humane Society six months earlier after being hit on her left side, completely paralyzing her front leg and leaving her back leg severely wounded. The front leg had to be amputated at the shoulder blade and the doctors feared for her back leg, but she quickly adjusted to the injury. "When we first got her I didn't know if she would be able to use her back leg at all but now she actually gets around really well," Amy said. "I was amazed at how quickly she recovered and how strong she has gotten; when we go on walks she actually pulls me!"

Just like any new addition to a family, when the Lyons brought Lucy home they had to make some adaptations. For the first few months Lucy refused to walk on tile or hard wood because she slipped, so Amy and Trevor bought pieces of carpet to cover some of those areas. She also has trouble climbing stairs so they usually carry her. In addition they have to limit the amount of food she eats because if she gets too heavy it will be hard for her to support her weight on three legs. "I admit we were pretty nervous at first about having a dog with special needs, but taking care of her has been a lot easier than we expected," Amy said.

Besides the few small adjustments, Lucy gets around just like any other dog and is adapting easily to her new life and family. "She was immediately comfortable in our home. The first day she jumped right up on our bed and has been hogging it ever since!" Amy said. "She is also really smart. After being called Charlotte for so long I didn't think we could switch her name, but we did and she knew her new name within a week!"

Lucy follows Amy around wherever she goes, loves to go for walks, loves to dig, but most of all she loves her "big sister" Dewey, a three year old Golden Retriever. "We took Dewey to meet Lucy before we adopted her. She is so sweet and protective of her, it's adorable!" Amy smiled. Both dogs love the beach and Dewey is an avid swimmer, but Lucy hasn't gotten used to the water yet. "We got a life jacket for Lucy to help her swim and we're planning on trying it out soon," Amy said.

Although Amy and Trevor plan on having kids in the future, for now the two pups are all the children they need. "I definitely feel like their mommy and they're my little babies. It's the greatest feeling to see them get so excited when I get home from work- Lucy's whole back end shakes all around," Amy said. Trevor also has taken on some fatherly instincts. "When we were thinking of adopting Lucy he kept a picture of her in his pocket all the time and showed everyone," Amy said. "He's always the one to discipline them so I don't have to, but he also spoils them like crazy! It gives me a glimpse into what he will be like as a father, and whenever that day comes, I know the dogs will be great big sisters."

Up Close:

Moved to Hilton Head area: Trevor - 14 years ago, Amy - 6 years ago.
First met: Working at Tony Romas. Trevor was Amy's manager. They have been married two years.
Love at first sight: "We didn't have to look at any other dogs. We went to meet her at the Humane Society the first time, then brought Dewey by to make sure they got along and we picked her up later that day!"
Dirty habits: Both dogs dig! However, "it's easy to tell which dog dug what hole: the big ones were made by the dog with two front legs and the little ones were by the one with one leg" Amy joked.