Three-legged miracle dog named pup helps boy with rare genetic condition overcome fear of going outside

Owen Howkins, 7, next to his three-legged dog Haatchi. The boy suffers from Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, which affects his muscles, joints and appearance.

A 7-year-old British boy is overcoming his crippling shyness brought on by a rare genetic disorder with the help of his new, three-legged dog.[Click to see more image]

Owen Howkins was born with Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, which causes his muscles and joints to be rigid, affects his growth and eyesight and give his face an abnormal puckered appearance, according to The Sun newspaper.

Because of the condition, the boy didn't like to leave his house in Basingstoke, in south central England, and didn't socialize with other children at school.
"When he first started school, he became more aware of being different, and he became even more withdrawn," his father's girlfriend, Colleen Drummond, said.


But the boy began to blossom after the family adopted Haatchi, an Anatolian Shepherd who lost his back left leg in a train accident earlier this year. 
The pup, who was just 5 months old at the time, was abandoned and lashed to some train tracks when the train hit him. 

He was found days later and nursed back to health with the help of the U.K.'s Royal Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.


The family decided to adopt the pooch after reading about his story on Facebook.
"As soon as they met, the effect Haatchi had on Owen was incredible," Drummond said, according to The Sun.


Drummond said the dog's missing leg has sent a message to Owen that it's OK to be different.
"Owen used to be scared of strangers, but he now wants to talk to everyone about Haatchi and wants to go out all the time to dog shows," Drummond said. 
"The difference we see in him can't be put into words."

Owen's father, Will, 33, an engineer in the Royal Air Force, said the dog treats the boy like one of his little pups.
"Haatchi will come and drink out of the bath when I'm bathing Owen, and they don't like to be apart."

The gentle pooch has been trained as a therapy dog and will soon begin visiting soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as sick children.