A three-legged dachshund refused to let his limb difference hold him back until an unexpected accident changed everything. Now, he’s paralyzed from the waist down and has just one front leg—but his tenacity knows no limits.
Henry, the 4-year-old dachshund, has always been a little different as he was born with a malformation in one of his front legs. He had to overcome obstacles from the beginning, but his owner, Jenna Lawing-Yates, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, told Newsweek that Henry “was unstoppable” before his accident.
“He hopped, sprinted, and moved through the world with a confidence that made you forget he was ever ‘different.’ He did everything a typical dog does—just in his own way,” Lawing-Yates said.
Unfortunately, on August 18, 2025, everything changed.
Henry was walking down the ramp his owners had installed for him and slipped. At the time, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but Lawing-Yates said her “entire world changed” in that instant.
Henry fell backwards and required immediate medical attention. He underwent an emergency hemilaminectomy surgery, removing part of the vertebra to decompress the spinal cord.
“Henry went down the ramp the same way he always had and there was nothing unusual—until he slipped and fell backward. In a single moment, our entire world shifted,” Lawing-Yates said.
“We held onto the hope that he would make a recovery with everything we had. Hope carried us through the sleepless nights, the vet visits, and the quiet moments where fear tried to take over.”
Following the major surgery, Henry underwent months of physical therapy, water therapy, acupuncture and laser therapy. His owners tried everything and patiently waited for any sign of improvement.
Unfortunately, the waiting went on for months, and Lawing-Yates said that the “sadness set in” eventually. It became clear that Henry was unlikely to make a recovery as they hoped, and he may be paralyzed for the rest of his life.
Lawing-Yates said: “Every session was an act of love, driven by the belief that if we tried hard enough, his body would find its way back. As weeks turned into months, we felt like we had failed him—like we hadn’t done enough. But slowly, something changed. We adjusted to a new normal and realized that even though his body had changed, his spirit hadn’t. He was still happy, and that changed our perspective completely.”
Henry can still move a little on his own, and he’s also got a wheelchair that means he can keep exploring. His owners must be careful to ensure that Henry doesn’t strain his front leg.
While his mobility may be limited, Lawing-Yates told Newsweek that “his determination isn’t.”
Being three-legged didn’t diminish Henry’s joy, and neither will paralysis. He still loves to cuddle, play, and of course barking at just about anything. He takes his role as protector very seriously, and physical disabilities won’t get in the way of that.
Lawing-Yates has been documenting Henry’s journey on his dedicated TikTok account (@henrythe3leggedweenie), with many of the videos generating millions of views. Internet users can’t help but admire Henry’s defiance and strength, and not to mention his owner’s endless support.
There is still a possibility that Henry could recover, and his owners will never stop hoping for that future. A GoFundMe has also been set up to cover his extensive veterinary bills, as his journey continues.
“Spinal walking is a possibility, and the idea that his body might relearn movement gives us a quiet, gentle hope,” Lawing-Yates said.
“Life can change in an instant, but a happy, healthy life is still possible—it may just look different than you imagined. Henry taught us that strength isn’t about how your body works, it’s about choosing joy.”
A video showing Henry’s progress four months after the spinal surgery has generated over 1 million views and 129,300 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Many internet users took to the comments to praise Henry and his owner, leading to more than 1,200 comments already.
One comment reads: “now im crying, he is blessed to have you.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Thank you for not giving up on him.”
While another person replied: “You are amazing! HE is amazing! What a warrior!”
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