A Massachusetts golden retriever was born to help but also born green, and the rare puppy has become a perfect match for a boy in Norwood battling a rare disease.
Ten-year-old Liam McGourty is dealing with the devastating diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The progressive muscle disorder is fatal and his family thought a service dog from Golden Opportunities for Independence in Walpole would be a good idea. They just had no idea after almost a year of waiting, they would get a green one.
“After 20 years of breeding, all of the sudden I get a green puppy,” said breeder and trainer Pauline Hoegler. “I couldn’t believe it, but I knew exactly who it was for.”
Liam’s favorite color is green and almost everything he wears is that color. His chair is called the green monster and now his new green tinted dog is named Fenway.
“He always wanted to color with green. His legos were green. Everything was green,” said his dad Jeff McGourty.
The puppy’s fur was stained by bile before birth and it has since faded, but Liam’s excitement has yet to wear off. He knows his battle will continue long after the puppy phase is over, but while he is busy raising the dog, his family is busy raising money and awareness. They have started a trust fund for his care and a non-profit to help others diagnosed with Duchenne.
“It’s a really expensive disease,” his mom Kristen McGourty said.
U.S. & World
Even though there is no cure yet for the disease, Liam says there is no better cure for the blues than a puppy born green.
“He makes me feel less lonely,” Liam said. “He really likes me.”
