A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read
"Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting
small children and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the
store owner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies
for?" he asked. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to
$50." The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some
change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"

The store smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady,
who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny
balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind.
Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy
and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner
explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and
had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp.
It would always be lame. The little boy became excited.

"That is the little puppy that I want to buy." The store owner
said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really
want him, I'll just give him to you." The little boy got quite
upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing
his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That
little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and
I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50
cents a month until I have him paid for."

The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this
little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play
with you like the other puppies." To this, the little boy reached
down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted,
crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace.

He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run
so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"