How Pretzel found healing and hope

Apr 21, 2025

Pretzel faced tough odds as a young puppy born with a painful leg deformity and hearing loss. Thanks to expert medical care at PAWS Chicago and a loving home, he's now thriving—and showing just how resilient pets can be.

Every pet deserves the chance to live without pain, feel safe, and be loved. At PAWS Chicago, we’re determined to make that a reality. Pretzel reminds us just how powerful compassion and expert care can be. His journey, made possible by the team at PAWS and a loving home, is nothing short of a transformation. 

Pretzel originally came to us from Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) as a young puppy with a serious orthopedic issue: a malformed left hind leg that he was born with. Though he instinctively tried to use the leg, it caused significant pain and bleeding. After careful assessment by our expert veterinary team, we determined that amputation would be the best course of action to relieve his discomfort and give him full mobility on three legs. He underwent a successful mid-femoral amputation. During his stay, we also identified that he is hearing impaired, another challenge he would need the right home to help manage. 

Thanks to our Medical Center team, Pretzel recovered smoothly and began to show his sweet, energetic personality. Nutritious, high-quality meals provided by our feeding partner, Kismet, also played a key role in supporting his healing and helping him regain his strength.  

His adopters first saw him on the PAWS website and quickly knew he belonged in their home. “We were drawn to him right away,” says adopter Eric Rylowicz. “We wanted a dog who could keep up with our active lifestyle but also enjoy quiet time indoors.” 

Since going home, Pretzel has been renamed “LouGnar.” His adopters have thoughtfully supported his continued recovery. “We’ve created a padded indoor play area so his remaining limbs don’t take too much impact while he runs around. We’ve also noticed he prefers pavement to grass, so we’re mindful of managing that to avoid strain. His bone helps with teething, and puzzle toys keep him mentally focused and calm.” 

They’re also learning how to communicate in ways that work for him. Despite being hearing impaired, he’s very smart and already picking up on visual cues and routines. 

“LouGnar is such a good boy, I am so grateful for everyone at PAWS doing what they do, I can tell he was loved during his time there, and as he transitions into his forever home he will continue to be loved and nourished physically and spiritually,” says Eric. 

From a painful start to a joyful new life, LouGnar’s journey reflects the full-circle mission of PAWS Chicago—to provide expert medical care, match pets with loving adopters, and offer support every step of the way. His story is a reminder that with the right treatment and compassionate care, any pet can thrive.