THE SHIBA INU NAMED GORDON WAS CROWNED THE WINNER OF THE 2022 WORLD’S CUTEST RESCUE DOG COMPETITION WITH THE JUDGES COMMENTING THAT “HE EXUDES JOY.”
Wendy Wickersham first spotted Gordon in 2015 through a Facebook post about the dog’s rescue story. After surviving a hit-and-run in Taiwan that left him paralyzed and on the side of the road, the Shiba Inu was saved by a Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan found Gordon and took him to an animal hospital where he received treatment for his injuries. Gordon was now looking for a home in the U.S.
Not looking to adopt a pet at that time, she moved on. But then, days later, while scrolling through Facebook, she saw Gordon’s face again. Wickersham, who works in the wine business, says of seeing Gordon on Facebook for a second time.
Wickersham and her husband, Jim Larson, were not able to look away this time and decided to start the adoption process. For months, the couple worked with Love and Second Chances, a California-based rescue helping Gordon find a home, to prepare for Gordon’s arrival from Taiwan.
Wickersham and Larson hired a dog trainer to ready their dog Yuki for the change, made their home accessible to Gordon’s wheelchair, and learned how to care for a paralyzed pet. Yuki, unfortunately, died in April, however, the couple was able to successfully care for him up until that point.
After applying to adopt the dog in July 2015, Gordon finally arrived in the U.S. in November. His new family met him at the airport and welcomed him into their home.
In addition to cookies, Gordon also loves spending time outdoors “cruising along in his cart.” This is one of his favorite activities and brings him a lot of joy.
Read More: Peoplemag