What do you do when your dog can’t quite get around too well and morning walks are out? Take him for a car ride! That’s what one family does for their pooch in today’s feel-good dog news story!
Butkus is not your ordinary, everyday dog. Oh no, this guy is a 10-year-old rescue dog that is a Newfoundland Mix. He lives in Taylorville, Illinois with his owners, Loren and Jim Podlinsek. Also residing in the household are two other rescue animals: Lola, a border collie and Serena, a cat.
Butkus was named after the Chicago Bears linebacker, Dick Butkus, who played nine seasons with the Chicago Bears, from 1965 to 1973. Dick Butkus was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
More in Dog News: Shelter Worker Suffers Burns After Saving Dogs from Fire
When your dog can’t walk, take him for a ride!
Dog Butkus rides shotgun every morning! What his mom does for him because medical condition makes walking difficult. https://t.co/KaT5AKNKqm
— Treats Unleashed (@TUTailWags) May 13, 2016
Butkus used to love taking longs walks around town, but can’t do that so much these days. You see, Butkus has a medical condition that makes it hard for him to get around and walk long distances is something he can’t do anymore. Even though he has had treatments that were not only expensive but extensive as well, it still hasn’t helped him with his mobility.
However, just because he has this medical condition, it doesn’t stop Butkus from exploring the town. In fact, every morning he wakes up Loren at 6:15 so she can take him on his daily ride. Loren is 68 years old and a former junior high school teacher for literature and social studies, retiring in 2012.
So, each morning, Butkus hops in the family’s green Dodge minivan for his ride. He must ride in the front seat. He will also get upset if Loren doesn’t take the exact same route every single day. Oh, and that is not all. Butkus also will get upset if she tries cutting corners or tries to rush his ride around town.
The family’s former vehicle, a Pontiac Grand Am, was totaled several months ago in a deer collision. With that vehicle, Butkus knew how to turn up the speed on the windshield wipers so they would go faster, which in turn would help him see out the window better. Also, he knew how to lock the doors, turn the engine off and honk the horn. Loren told the Herald & Review, “I was at the vet’s early one morning to pick up medicine and all of a sudden I heard the horn, and then it wasn’t very long before the horn goes off again. The vet said ‘I think you’ve been in here too long; Butkus wants to go for his ride.’ And yup, that’s what it was: “That dog figured out if he sounded the horn, I would come.” However, Butkus hasn’t exactly figured out all the controls on the minivan as of yet.
Do your dogs have any strange or funny routines that they make sure you do every day? Tell us your funny or touching dog news in the comments!
