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Scooter’s story an inspiration

$10,000 donated to local animal shelter

Kim Fundingsland/MDN Julie Mariott and Scooter, the double-amputee dog that inspired a nationally winning essay by Mariott.

He’s friendly. He’s fun and he delivers a message. He’s Scooter, a very happy dog despite missing both hind legs.

Scooter was adopted from the Souris Valley Animal Shelter by Julie Mariott of Minot. Mariott became so inspired by Scooter that she wrote a story about her amazing dog and entered her writing in a national competition sponsored by the Petco Foundation. The story caught the attention of contest directors which resulted in winning $10,000. The check was presented to the SVAS Wednesday morning at Minot’s Petco location.

“There are thousands of stories written for this grant every year,” said Randy McDonald, SVAS director. “While we were hopeful, we were not optimistic. When we were told we won we were ecstatic.”

Scooter had been found abandoned in a ditch, left for dead. His litter mates around him deceased. One of Scooter’s legs had been partially eaten. The other leg suffered from an unknown cause.

“The vet amputated one leg, thinking Scooter could still use the other. It just wouldn’t work,” said Mariott.

Kim Fundingsland/MDN Randy McDonald, Souris Valley Animal Shelter director, and Scooter, accepted a check for $10,000 from the Petco Foundation due to Scooter’s inspirational story.

With both hind legs amputated Scooter’s future appeared bleak. However, the happy-go-lucky pup soon became an inspiration to those who cared for him. When Mariott, who works closely with military families, visited the SVAS in the hopes of finding a lap dog, she instead was drawn to Scooter. The two are now perfect companions.

“As a therapist I’m trying to help people,” said Mariott. “I want the best for everybody. Scooter gives hope and inspiration to people to overcome obstacles in their lives. They see what he goes through with such a great personality and demeanor. It just shows you that you can overcome and that life doesn’t have to be gloomy.”

“He’s a tremendous success story,” added Justin Anderson, SVAS community outreach coordinator. “The work he does with disabled veterans, being a therapy dog in that respect, it shows that the dog has a lot of heart.”

The story about Scooter, as written by Mariott and included herein, tugs at people’s emotions.

“I actually teared up when I read it. It’s hard not to,” said Jason Maag, Minneapolis,Petco district manager.

Maag was in Minot to be a part of Wednesday’s check presentation to SVAS. The amount was meaningful to a current fund drive underway by SVAS. SVAS is in the midst of raising $1.2 million as part of a capital campaign to construct new facilities.

“This check means we’ve now raised $605,000, a little over a half what is needed in just under a year,” said McDonald. “What’s important today is that Scooter is recognized. We are proud of his story. He is the face of the animal shelter.”

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