Beaten puppy gets adopted by Calgary paramedic who saved him

Almost three months ago, a small dog was found on the side of a rural road just west of Calgary.

The eight-week-old shepherd-mix puppy had been badly beaten. His jaw had been broken in three places and was infected.

About a week after an EMS crew rescued him — and after having his jaw wired shut — the dog, named Rufus, was offered foster care by one of the paramedics who saved him.

Rufus continued to undergo medical treatment and was given socializing training. When he was deemed fit for adoption, his foster family offered to become his permanent one.

"In a super happy ending, the paramedic ended up adopting him," Cheryl Wallach, spokeswoman for the Cochrane and Area Humane Society, told the Calgary Sun.

"I didn't think that was the intention at first but it came to 'we've had him this long, there's no way we can give him up,'" she added.